Iggi Pop tunes up for WA

One of Australia's most famous racing operations, Segenhoe Stud, will be seen at Ascot during the summer, with progressive stayer Iggi Pop being aimed at the $500,000 Perth Cup (2400m) on January 1.

Segenhoe have long believed that Iggi Pop, given time to mature, would develop into a smart stayer.

Iggi Pop, by Cox Plate-winning sire Savabeel from O'Reilly mare Freequence, claimed his first stakes success when he outstayed his rivals to post a commanding 3½-length win in the Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on July 5.

Segenhoe racing manager and former trainer Bill Mitchell brought VRC Derby winner Stylish Century to WA for the 1991 Kingston Town Classic.

He said the John Sargent-trained Iggi Pop did not handle rain-affected tracks and felt the lightly-raced five-year-old would be suited by Ascot's firm surface.

"He doesn't like the soft ground much," Mitchell said. "He is good on top of the ground.

"He is a genuine stayer who can sit on top of the speed. It is a race worth a lot of money where he can slide under the radar."

The $175,000 Newcastle Cup (2300m) on September 18 and the $400,000 Metropolitan (2400m) on October 4 are two likely targets for Iggi Pop in the spring.

"He'll run in a couple of weeks and then we'll look at the Newcastle Cup and Metropolitan," Mitchell said.

"We are not trying to rush him into A-grade racing quickly.

"We believe we have a couple of more years' racing with him and we want to pick off a few nice races on the way through.

"We are in the early planning stages. Whether Iggi Pop would come to Perth and race in lead-up races, I would have to talk to John Sargent.

"He is very good with training stayers. He has only had the horse for four runs and so far he has him going very well."

Iggi Pop has won five of his 22 starts for more than $283,000 in prize money.

Meanwhile, Perth Racing track manager Cameron Sutherland said the Belmont track was a slow 6 yesterday, but anticipated the rating to be upgraded if fine weather persisted over the next 24 hours.

Saturday's meeting was abandoned after two races when the track became waterlogged.

Sutherland said maintenance work during the off-season would consist of slip drains being installed around the track to further assist with drainage.

"Because of the time of the deluge the water could not work its way through the drains," Sutherland said.

"If you looked at Patersons Stadium on Friday night it was waterlogged and it is a state-of-the-art football ground."

·Smoko won his 930m barrier trial at Lark Hill yesterday by 3½ lengths.

"He is a genuine stayer who can sit on top of the speed. It is a race worth a lot of money …""Segenhoe racing manager *Bill Mitchell *on Iggi Pop