The camera shy Stan Ferreira’s gutsy Judpot filly Juxtapose proved she is no one-hit wonder with a resounding victory in Saturday’s R1 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks at Turffontein. The Varsfontein Stud bred 3yo thus wrapped up two legs of the SA Triple Tiara and showed she ranks with the best staying fillies of her year.
Juxtapose (Chase Maujean) coasts to victory (Pic – JC Photos)
When Juxtapose popped up under Chase Maujean at 50-1 to beat the highly vaunted Negroamaro in the SA Fillies Classic earlier in April, many thought she had run above herself. They call it a fluke in plain terms.
Besides the doubts about her ability to stay the extra 650m on Saturday, it was expected that some of the fillies from the bigger yards would have Juxtapose’s measure – that’s why she started at a generous 9-1.
But the filly with the heart of a lion and plenty of ability to match came from last into the home run with a devastating turn of foot to cut down the leaders and win going away by 2,25 lengths in a time of 155,10 secs.
Chase Maujean registered his career Gr1 ice-breaker on Juxtapose on Classic Day, 2 April, and rode his favourite filly with similar confidence and aplomb on Saturday. The only difference this time was that it was so easy.
Chase Maujean – confident ride on a filly he knows well
Maujean has been aboard at all of Juxtapose’s eight career outings and read the race perfectly – seeing the scrimmaging and bustling ahead of him and knowing his little girl is prone to bouts of nervousness.
Bernard Fayd’herbe on the other hand rode an aggressive race on the huge Silvano filly Zafira, who ran from her wide draw and was still going powerfully inside the 350m marker.
But size doesn’t count and Peggy Jay and Juxtapose came on the scene late.
In a matter of strides Juxtapose had made up the leeway from way back and was eased down at the line.
Joey Soma’s Fortissima ran on well and floors above her official rating of 77 – to storm up for a well deserved second.
Peggy Jay maintained her consistency in third, with Zafira slightly outpaced late and tiring into fourth.
Juxtapose maintained her sire Judpot’s Gr1 strike rate- read this short piece written in March about Judpot.
She was bred by Varsfontein out of the Windrush filly Sunsational, a versatile stakes winner of five races from 1000m to 2000m.
Juxtapose was purchased by Roland Bouwer for R130 000 on the 2015 National Yearling Sale.
We mentioned the lovely twist in our SA Fillies Classic review that the race sponsor Mary Slack owns Sunsational’s second foal and Juxtapose’s half-sister by Captain Al.
A half brother to the winner by Var – named Valbonne – was withdrawn from last week’s Bloodstock SA National Yearling Sale.
Juxtapose’s owner, the Bouwers, who were too overcome by emotion to speak after their fabulous filly’s Gr1 win, have gotten used to the limelight and were happy to thank their trainer and jockey for a professional production.
The Bouwers have purchased a farm next door Varsfontein and will be breeding horses.
Trainer Stan Ferreira shunned the limelight as usual.
Juxtapose has now won 4 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R1 429 125.
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Gr2 SA Oaks (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 30, R1 million, 2450m, turf, good, 2.35.01
1 – JUXTAPOSE (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Judpot (USA) – Sunsational (SAF) by Windrush (USA). Owner Mrs L C A Bouwer; Breeder Varsfontein Stud; trainer S Ferreira; jockey C Maujean
2 – Fortissima (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Fort Wood (USA) – Synchronize (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
3 – Peggy Jay (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Jay Peg (SAF) – Colonial Girl (SAF) by Stage Colony (USA)
Margins: 2.25, 2.00, 0.10
