Majmu: filly among the best De Kock has trained
Trainer Mike de Kock has had a good run in the Cape in recent years. He sends down horses sparingly but those who do travel south are genuine contenders.
File Picture: Majmu has been priced up at 3-10 to win today’s R1-million Grade 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Kenilworth.
He won the Grade 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas last year with Rumya there is no doubt the former champion trainer would leave Cape Town most disappointed should Majmu not walk off with top honours in this R1-million race over 1600m at Kenilworth.
He rates the Australian-bred filly very highly and is reported in some quarters to have called her the best filly he has trained. Considering the achievements of Ipi Tombe and Igugu over the years, that would make the daughter of Redoute’s Choice a certainty for the Fillies Guineas.
She has done almost everything asked of her and the lone defeat was not as result of any lack of ability but rather because she ran into all sorts of trouble in the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m at Turffontein.
She turned that around very quickly with a decisive victory in the Grade 3 Starling Stakes over 1400m on the standside track, winning in the fastest time of the day. Harry’s Son, who won the Graham Beck Stakes on the day, was 0.89sec slower.
She is rated at least 5.5kg better than any of her opposition and at level weights will take a power of beating. She jumps from barrier No 6 and has Anthony Delpech in the irons.
Cold As Ice was most impressive when winning the Grade 2 Choice Carriers Championship over 1400m and in theory holds all the other challengers. However, after that race Bernard Fayd’Herbe did cast some doubt as to whether she will see out 1600m. This race will answer that question.
Glen Kotzen believes Double Whammy, if ridden from off the pace this time, will pose a bigger threat to the favourites. Last time she was badly drawn and jockey Greg Cheyne had no option but to make a lot of her from the start and she may have tired slightly by the end.
De Kock also has Ataab who should be a contender for a place and needs to be included in Trifectas and Quartets. She could also make sure the Cape crawl does not cost Majmu the race.
De Kock has Alboran Sea running in the Grade 2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m. On his website, mikedekockracing.com, he commented that all three fillies travelled well but was “particularly chuffed with Alboran Sea, she looks a picture”.
Ignore her last run as she pulled up slightly distressed and on her best form, will be very hard to beat.
