‘Iggy’ ready to make his mark in North America

Multiple Group 1 winning Australian pacer Ignatius, also known as ‘Iggy’ is not far from making his North American harness racing debut.

The gelded son of Roll With Joe was flown over to trainer Noel Daley in Bordentown, New Jersey, last month.

Former trainer James Rattray and his family, who still own the $595,223 earner, are looking forward to seeing what the pacer can produce in the Northern Hemisphere.

“He should be racing in a few weeks and we can’t wait to see what he can do there,” said Rattray.

“He should do a good job and enjoy the style of racing.”

Rattray spent a stint working for Daley before returning back to Australia and racing the likes of dual Inter Dominion champion Beautide from John McCarthy’s property in Cobbitty, New South Wales.

Towards the end of Beautide’s racing career, that also included a Miracle Mile victory in 2013, Rattray purchased a property in Exeter and set up his own training establishment.

Not long after, Ignatius arrived at Rattray’s new Southern Highlands base where he went on to win the Group 1 Breeders Challenge Final as a two, three and four-year-old.

Ignatius, who still holds the 1720m track record at Penrith of 1:53.6 that he set as a three-year-old, will take a best winning mile rate of 1:49.4 to the U.S.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink