Australian bred filly Igugu maintained her perfect record with a convincing victory in the G3 Joburg Spring Fillies & Mares Challenge (1450m) at Turffontein on Saturday.

Igugu (3f Galileo – Zarinia by Intikhab) settled at rear after her stablemate Headstrong cut out a quick clip in front.  But once Randall Simons gave her the green light, the Kia Ora Stud bred filly swept her rivals aside with a brilliant finishing burst.  She won easing up from fellow Aussie bred filly Zarinia (Danehill Dancer).

Igugu is now unbeaten in three starts and had already signalled her potential with a couple of wins at Vaal by a combined margin of seven lengths.  This was her first proper test, and she responded in the style of a serious racehorse.  As a daughter of Galileo, she should go a lot further than 1450 metres and is the early divisional leader among South Africa’s three year-olds so far this season.

Igugu is raced in partnership by Summerhill Stud owner Mick Goss with Andre Macdonald, Rodney Thorpe and Roger Zeeman.  She was a $65,000 buy out of the Kia Ora consignment at the 2009m Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.

Her dam Zarinia was bred by The Aga Khan and hails from the family of his 2008 Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava (Zamindar ) and G1 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Serpour (Darshaan).

Like every other racing jurisdiction, Galileo has made an impact in South Africa.  His filly Sidera was bred by Think Big Stud and she was a Listed winner of the Starling Stakes last season.

His colt Galileo’s Galaxy was a Coolmore homebred and he was denied a hat-trick in the G2 Dingaans this time last year by Fastnet Rock colt Curved Ball.