Majmu – very hard to beat
Mike De Kock has set the cat amongst the pigeons for today’s R1 million Gr1 Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas. Let’s just say that he has actually scared many of the local birds away from the joint first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara with the presence of Equus champion Majmu and a ready-made pacesetter in Ataab – a capable contingency for the Cape Crawl conundrum.
This classic is a sought after prize for any owner or breeder of a 3yo filly and we were expecting a capacity field of 16 to line up.
But logic and good sense suggests that the top four are of such a strength that the black-type and the cheques have already been allocated – so it probably made little sense for connections of lesser lights to take a dip. That’s a pity, but we cannot really blame them.
The Choice
Anthony Delpech – arrives in Cape Town later this week
The grey Redoute’s Choice filly Majmu stands out head and shoulders above her opposition and on paper has 5,5 kgs in hand of her nearest rival
Majmu has won all but one of her five starts and on that occasion, her season debut in the Gr2 Joburg Spring F & M Challenge, she was poorly ridden and did not run to her true ability.
She set the record straight at her very next start when skipping clear to win the Gr3 Starling Stakes, beating Siren’s Call 1,75 lengths.
First Trip
The latter went on to half frank that and run a fair fourth in the male dominated Dingaans last Saturday behind shock winner, Unparalleled.
This will be Majmu’s first trip to the Cape and there are already whispers that she will stay in town and be aimed at the J&B Met.
If that be the true yardstick of De Kock’s confidence, then maybe we are talking ‘better than Igugu’?
Ridiculous – let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as the master trainer would caution!
Cool Customer
Cold As Ice – go close if she gets the mile
Joey Ramsden-trained Cold As Ice, represents Majmu’s most serious opposition in our book.
The facile winner of the Gr2 Choice Carriers Championship, has a few minor mountains to climb in her bid to conquer the world.
She is drawn wider than the De Kock duo and there are very real doubts about her not seeing out the last 200m if the pace is a strong one.
In that last win, Bernard Fayd’herbe was able to control the pace and stalk Double Whammy and draw off late to Kotzen’s Judpot by 1,25 lengths.
Kotzen has expressed confidence (and even hope maybe) that his filly will not have to make the running again and Greg Cheyne certainly has a good few options at his disposal from the 1 draw.
Ready To Go
Vaughan Marshall’s Jet Set Go – would be a big winner for the sponsor!
The second of the Avontuur-breds is the Jet Master filly Jet Set Go, a winner of 3 of her 4 starts.
She was a further 1,25 lengths behind Double Whammy in the Choice Carriers Championship after having every chance.
She had returned from a short rest there and may strip a fitter filly. It worth noting that she won her first three starts, including a Fairview feature against the males in grand style.
Grey Flyer
Grey Light – can she come back to her smart best?
Joey Ramsden’s second-stringer Grey Light was scratched with Stipes permission from her engagement at Kenilworth on Sunday.
The flashy daughter of Tapit will relish the extra 200m here after a no-show 6,50 lengths behind her stablemate Cold As Ice in the Choice Carriers Championship.
Her two early polytrack victories stamped her as something above average and she may have place prospects if they go fast enough.
Strong Support
Ataab is the second of Mike De Kock’s Australian-bred duo of runners.
The daughter of Flying Spur has won 3 of her 6 starts in rather facile fashion.
She ran a fair race in Saturday’s Gr3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein when moving up dangerously and only run out of it late by the two Mauritzfontein girls, Banbury and Smart Call.
She finished 3,25 lengths off the winner and one somehow doubts that she will be subjected to a tiring road trip so soon afterwards to line up in a Gr1 race 2000km away.
Bass Bullet
Mike Bass – outside hope
The Mike Bass-trained Inara is one of three Trippi fillies in the race.
She looks well held on her 4,50 length fourth behind Cold As Ice in the Choice Carriers Championship at her last start.
Justin Snaith has had some very good fillies over the years that he has saddled to win this race.
Greg Bortz’ Sunset Tripp has won 2 of her 6 starts and showed prominently for a long way in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes before being overwhelmed by two strong males in Zamebezi River and Brutal Force.
Despite her exertions, she stayed on for a 2,75 length third. It won’t be in her favour that she is drawn widest of all.
The Balance
Glen Kotzen – saddles Double Whammy and Jeweller’s Joy
Cuvee Brut has won two of her three starts, the last a courageous win ver the speedy Ladidah in a lowly rated fillies handicap over the sprint course.
She has her first try of the turn and is yet to show whether she can handle the best around.
The second of the Kotzen pair is the Trippi filly Jeweller’s Joy, who like Sunset Tripp comes out of the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes.
She went into the rich sales race following a conclusive post-maiden win against older fillies and was not disgraced after being bumped and finishing 3,75 lengths behind Zambezi River. Sunset Tripp holds her on that run.
It would appear a foregone conclusion that Double Whammy is the stable elect though.
The Tactics
The interesting conflict of needs between the top two should settle matters.
Majmu will want the pace on. Cold As Ice will want to sprint for home.
If De Kock only brings only one to town, then things could lean towards the Ramsden camp.
But we have seen Majmu at her best – she is a terrific racehorse.
Jet Set Go and Double Whammy should scrap over the balance of the place money.
It is difficult seeing anything else troubling that quartet.
