Dubai-owned filly wins unique double in South Africa

Dubai: South Africa's Horse of the Year Igugu scored a hard-fought victory in Cape Town's most prestigious race, the Grade 1 J&B Met, at Kenilworth yesterday.

Ridden by Anthony Delpech for champion trainer Mike de Kock, the five-year-old Galileo filly scored by half a length from Bravura with Gimmethegreenlight three quarters of a length back in third in the 2.5 million rand (Dh1.17 million) contest.

Igugu is owned by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, a noted owner of racehorses, including the 2007 UAE triple crown winner Asiatic Boy.

The filly became only the fifth horse in 75 years to complete the Durban July-J&B Met double, two of South Africa's biggest races.

De Kock was winning his third Met and first for 12 years.

Bravura, who was handed a 2kg Grade 1 penalty for a race that he won two years ago, ran a big race to finish just half a length behind the winner.

Third placed Gimmethegreenlight, winner of the Queen's Plate, was bidding to become the first three-year-old in 12 years to win the race.

Kenilworth is the oldest race course in South Africa. The J&B Met is an event which draws more than 50,000 spectators.