This is not the first time Igugu has scared off the opposition. South Africa's 2011 Horse of the Year faces only six rivals in the Group 2 Balanchine at Meydan Racecourse tomorrow.
The 1,800m contest was reopened on Monday only for Godolphin to swell their challenge yesterday by handing Prussian her UAE debut alongside the Royal Blue runners Sajjhaa, Dark Orchid and Spellwork.
Despite the generous purse of US$200,000 (Dh734,000), which pays out $4,000 to sixth place, there are few owners and trainers in the land willing to risk a run to take her on.
It says much for Igugu's huge reputation, which 12 months ago was such that only six were declared for South Africa's Grade 1 Paddock Stakes alongside her.
Igugu happened to miss the race because of a respiratory tract infection but three weeks later she put that all behind her by defying stringent quarantine conditions to win the J&B Met, one of South Africa's most prestigious Grade 1 races. The six year old has not raced since.
Mike de Kock, her trainer, has put her through a long period of slow work to keep her fitness at a decent level in the interim.
Like 13 of her stablemates she endured 21 days of quarantine after the J&B Met, added to 90 days on the island of Mauritius and 30 days in England were she picked up a splint.
Since she arrived in Dubai on November 7, however, things have gone more smoothly and De Kock is hopeful she can justify her lofty reputation under Christophe Soumillon tomorrow night.
"It is a matter of whether we will get her back to her best after a year off," De Kock told The National. "She is a filly and a when a filly goes off on you, you can do what you like but you can't get them back.
"She is a gutsy filly and a courageous filly and I hope she returns to the form she is capable of as she is world class and can win on the world stage."
De Kock would know. The South African handler has won the Balanchine, which was only introduced into the UAE programme in 2004, a record five times.
Last year he scooped the prize with Mahbooba, who like Igugu is an Australian-bred daughter of Galileo, the dual Derby winner.
In 2008, Sun Classique added the Dubai Sheema Classic to her win in the Balanchine, while in 2011 River Jetez, a previous J&B Met winner, tacked on the Dubai Duty Free to her Balanchine success. Moon Dazzle in 2005 and Irridescence in 2006 were his other winners.
De Kock mentioned at the beginning of the Dubai World Cup Carnival that the Dubai World Cup itself might be a target but it seems that the more well-worn path of former stablemates seems to be the favoured option.
If Igugu shows up well tomorrow, De Kock intends to run Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa's prized asset in the Jebel Hatta, a turf race over 1,800m on Super Saturday in just under three weeks before deciding between the Duty Free or the Sheema.
"I'm very happy with her. My view is for her to improve through the Carnival and to peak on World Cup night," De Kock said.
"She is versatile in trip but we will see if she still has got that zip and feel for the trip and for racing.
"She may need further now that she is that bit older but my gut feeling is that she will be competitive."
On her first start for 390 days Igugu is unlikely to set the pulse racing during the race preliminaries. She does not walk well. She often sweats in the parade ring and goes down to the starting gates awkwardly.
Once the gates open, however, it is an entirely different story, resulting in 10 wins from 12 career starts. In those two defeats Igugu finished second.
"She has never been a filly that gives you confidence before a race as she does everything she shouldn't do but I wouldn't change that," De Kock said.
She may not be much to look at, but in terms of official ratings Igugu is one of the classiest fillies to have ever showcased their talents in Dubai. Her rating of 118 puts Sajjhaa's next best of 112 tomorrow night in the shade.
Mahbooba was rated at 113 after her Balanchine win, while Sun Classique was rated similarly at her peak.
When Royal Delta, who warmed up for a repeat bid for next month's World Cup with an easy win in America on Sunday, ran at Meydan last season she was rated 119.
If Igugu does progress through to World Cup night, those two leading ladies will be vying for the spotlight, whatever race the South African challenger runs in.
sports@thenational.ae
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
Jeff Horn
Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
Brief scores
Day 1
Toss England, chose to bat
England, 1st innings 357-5 (87 overs): Root 184 not out, Moeen 61 not out, Stokes 56; Philander 3-46
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Mountain%20Boy
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zainab%20Shaheen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Naser%20Al%20Messabi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
Inside%20Out%202
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Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
