Star 3yo Majmu will be a popular banker at Greyville on Saturday
Mike De Kock’s champion 3yo Majmu looks all set to make it a winning penultimate start on South African soil when she takes on eleven rivals in Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Woolavington 2000 at Greyville. The daughter of Redoute’s Choice is smoothly on track for a tilt at the Vodacom Durban July before departing to pursue an international career.
Majmu is a winner of six of her eight starts and the option of whether to go the Daily News or Woolavington route into the July was probably partly influenced by the move of the Siren’s Call connections to sidestep this race and take on the boys in the Daily News.
That clears the way for the beautiful grey, who is likely to set the City track alight – even though the focus will be largely on the boys in the Daily News.
Majmu has little to achieve against her own sex and, just as he did with Igugu in the 2011 Woolavington and July double, De Kock has her short-term career plans well chartered.
He said after her scintillating Gr1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes win:
Mike De Kock – big plans for Majmu
“Majmu’s done everything we’ve asked of her and she’s top class but she has more to prove, more to conquer. I have read some reports in the media about her being the best filly I’ve trained but I can’t recall putting that on record. Majmu may well turn out to be the best, but right now Ipi Tombe remains at the top of my list by virtue of what she’d achieved.”
A fortnight after that she was beaten 1,25 lengths at odds-on by the rampant entire Wylie Hall in the Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge after spreading a left hind shoe in running. That was her first try at 2000m and she acquitted herself very smartly.
Greyville Debut
On Saturday she faces some decent opposition at a strange track – but she has them beaten.
She walloped subsequent multiple Gr1 winner Inara in the Avontuur Fillies Guineas, and also beat stablemates Trophy wife and Tamaanee in the Empress Club.
She also holds SA Oaks winner Pine Princess on a line through Inara in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes.
Majmu is a versatile sort , who can go handy or run at them – so Avontuur sponsored Anthony Delpech will have an embarrassment of options at his disposal however the race pans out.
There is little question that the classy Inara is Mike Bass’s major hope for a Gr1 win in the 2015 Champions Season.
The daughter of Trippi was beaten 2,50 lengths by Majmu in the Cape Fillies Guineas but the downed two good sorts in Athina and Cold As Ice to win her two Gr1’s – the Paddock Stakes and Majorca Stakes.
She is drawn beautifully at 1 and came out firing after a three month break to chase Alexis home in the KRA Fillies Guineas.
Assuming the second run after a rest hoodoo stays in bed, Inara looks a serious challenger.
Pine Princess ends Siren’s Call Triple Tiara dreams
Majmu’s stablemate Pine Princess is most famously known for having downed Triple Tiara pretender Siren’s Call in that dramatic finish to the SA Oaks at end of April.
She looks held over the 2000m but could well give De Kock a winning exacta.
The Tarry coupling includes the perpetual stakes bridesmaid Trophy Wife, who has spent most of her career in the shadow of the outstanding Siren’s Call.
She ran a rare blank race in the KRA Guineas when 4,10 lengths behind Alexis, and may not enjoy the Greyville track as much as the Turffontein long run-in.
Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg winner Tamaanee looks held by Majmu on her Empress Club third – but unlike Trophy Wife, she could make them gallop from a 2 draw at this track.
Tough
It looks tough for the rest.
Alec Laird’s Smart Call was beaten close on six lengths in the Empress Club Stakes. Like Tamaanee she is a forward galloper who will stretch them.
Local hope Olma may be better on the polytrack and she looks to be making up the numbers.
Sensible Lover – outside place chance
Weiho Marwing’s Sensible Lover was well beaten in the KRA Fillies Guineas at her first local start.
There is no certainty that the daughter of Good Journey will go the 2000m and she will have to raise her game.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren’s Silver Class has been a consistent placer and she finished well for fifth in the KRA Fillies Guineas.
She is out of a Rakeen mare and should love the 2000m.
Poor Race
Dean Kannemeyer – saddles Indaba after a disappointing run last time
Dean Kannemeyer has enjoyed plenty of success this season and he saddles the Dynasty filly Indaba.
She ran a poor race on her KZN debut behind 2014 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Maybe Yes and her trainer has indicated that she may need another run to properly assert herself.
Neil Bruss’ Zante ran 6,85 lengths behind in the KRA Fillies Guineas at her second KZN start.
She left Cape Town with a big reputation and while out on the official ratings, she could be plugging on late for minor money. She is bred to stay well.
It looks a straight shootout between Majmu and Inara. The preference is for the former, who looks to be a serious contender for July glory. Tamaanee, Pine Princess and Trophy Wife should dispute place money.
