Majmu, highest rated 2yo of either sex seen out this season, goes for a feature hattrick
Past results of the Fillies Nursery fully justify its current grading and much lower prize money than the colts’ Gr1 equivalent (400k vs 1 million). Recent years’ winners Spring Clover, Waywest Goddess, Hidden Beauty, King’s Temptress and Virgo’s Babe may have been good fillies, but weren’t topclass.
That said, the difference in prize money has robbed this year’s Fillies race from some interest, with Flame Cat and Carry On Alice defecting to the main Nursery, in the hope of earning (higher) place money there. Their defection is explained by the presence here of what might well be a future champion, the unbeaten Majmu, going for a hattrick of feature races.
Majmu made her debut early in March. The talk was out, and the imported daughter of Redoute’s Choice shortened from 5/2 to start favourite at 12/10. Slowly away and racing green, she got her act together in the closing stages, to beat Flame Cat (gave 3kg) by just over a length. Her second start, where she met Flame Cat at level weights, saw her even shorter in the betting, coming in from from 7/10 to 4/10.
It looked early on as if her supporters might be in trouble, as she again missed the break. Jockey Delpech appeared to be determined to get her to learn what is required in a race, and forcefully made up ground quickly, weaving his way through.
It looked all a lot more serious than it was, as Majmu responded well and put three lengths between her and Flame Cat in the closing stages to win impressively. On our ratings that was the best effort seen of any 2yo seen out this season, colts included.
Majmu’s most likely opposition (for want of a better word) in the race might come from Sean Tarry’s imported Rio Filo, a daughter of Teofilo. She made a good debut, coming from off the pace to win going away. It wasn’t so much what she beat, as how she did it, the race time being a fair one. Rio Filo was somewhat green and should be able to improve nicely on her rating.
Green Crest is a winner of two races, but finished well beaten in two feature events. One of those was a five lengths fourth to Majmu, where she gave the winner 3kg. It’s level weights with Majmu here, but that won’t make any difference.
Apart from Majmu, the De Kock stable also saddles One Fine Day, a daughter of Trippi. Supported from 4/1 into 15/10 on debut, she found one too good in another debut runner, Victoria Young, who won by half a length. One Fine Day set the pace that time, reportedly coughing afterwards.
She came out again two weeks later, starting at 4/10 in a field of twelve. Again in command from the start, she won by five. That was against decidedly modest opposition, though, and her rating for that race was below her debut effort. She again meets Victoria Young here, and both fillies should improve on the ratings they produced in their first encounter. Victoria Young had been slow out that time, while One Fine Day set the pace. That suggests Victoria should again have the upper hand if she breaks on terms. That’s no certainty, though, as One Fine Day’s coughing may well have had an effect at his first run.
That leaves two fillies from the Spies stable, Corne’s Girl and Snow Call. Both look to be optimistic entries.
In summary, Majmu will win. There will be a three-way tussle for the places, between Victoria Young, One Fine Day and Rio Filo. In what order they’ll fill those places – who knows.
