2011 VODACOM DURBAN JULY RESHUFFLE

Anthony Delpech celebrates Woolavington 2000 victory aboard Igugu
(Photo : Gold Circle / Summerhill)

VODACOM DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)
Greyville, Turf, 2200m
2 July 2011

Super filly Igugu confirmed her favouritism for the Vodacom Durban July with an emphatic win in the Woolavington 2000 at Greyville on Saturday. The other July pointer on the day, the Daily News 2000, reshuffled the pack of Igugu’s challengers - with 16-1 shot The Apache snatching a thrilling victory.

The Apache’s winning time for the 2000m was 121.21 seconds, compared to Igugu’s 122.62 seconds.

Igugu started at odds of 1-5 and always looked like justifying that support in the Grade 1, 2000m contest for three-year-old fillies.

Jockey Anthony Delpech allowed the Australian-bred to go to the front early on and dictate the pace with her big action. In the straight, she stretched away easily to win by 2.75 lengths from Emerald Cove and her stable companion Berry Blaze.

After the race, Delpech said: “I’ll most probably never ride a filly as good as this in my career again.”

He described trainer Mike de Kock as a “genius” for getting Igugu back into winning trim after a brief rest following her Triple Tiara triumph.

De Kock said: “She was freshened up a little bit and I believe she’ll still get better than this. I’ve always said I’ve never really reached the bottom of this filly.” 

The Apache put himself firmly into contention for the July with his tremendous burst of finishing speed in the R1-million Daily News 2000.

The son of Mogok showed his victory in The Dingaans was no flash in the pan as he came from near-last, about 10 lengths off the pace at the turn, to fly past a host of fellow July hopefuls and snare a coveted Grade 1 victory on the line.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl’s charge nosed ahead of 18-10 favourite Run For it, with English Garden, Black Wing and Gold Onyx next best - all within two lengths of the winner.

Igugu’s odds have eased marginally - from 3-1 to 33-10.
 
In his post-race comments, jockey Raymond Danielson said he believed The Apache would improve further, this race being his second run after a rest.

Van Zyl said he hoped to “spoil Igugu’s party” in the July.

All the horses involved in the blanket finish have shortened dramatically in Betting World’s Vodacom Durban July betting.

The Apache has come in from 50-1 to 12-1, Run For it from 75-10 to 6-1, English Garden from 14-1 to 10-1 and Black Wing from 66-1 to 25-1.

The big disappointments in the Daily News 2000 were Solo Traveller, Il Saggiatore and M’Lords Throat, all of whom were contesting the lead just 200m out but faded markedly in the final strides. All three have drifted in the July betting.

Extract from Tab Online