Majmu (AUS) looked head and shoulders above the opposition in the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Fillies Guineas, run over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday, and so it proved as the daughter of Redoute's Choice (AUS) came home unopposed. Inara (SAF) was game in second ahead of Double Whammy (SAF) and Jet Set Go (SAF).
There was drama at the start with the late scratching of leading contender Cold As Ice, who broke through the stalls, dislodging jockey Bernard Fayd'Herbe and taking flight. Once the race got under way it was Ataab who was soon in front from Grey Light, Majmu, Inara and Jet Set Go. Double Whammy, who had used front running tactics in her most recent races, sat about eight lengths off the leader on this occasion, with Cuvee Brut, Jeweller's Joy and Sunset Tripp the last three to turn for home.
Jockey Anthony Delpech could hold back Majmu no longer upon entering the straight and the odds-on favourite quickly put distance between herself and the rest of the field. Entering the last furlong, it looked as if a steeplechase margin might be on the cards but Delpech eased her down well below the line. The final margin of 2.50 lengths does not tell anything like the full story as it could have been multiplied if she had really opened up.
Majmu is clearly in a different class as far as the current crop of 3-year-old fillies is concerned and it will be interesting to see how the rest of her season is mapped out, with trainer Mike de Kock alluding to a possible tilt at the J & B Met before taking her place on the international stage. The presence of his stable star would certainly be a massive drawcard in the summer season's biggest event of all.
The winner is an absolute machine and, in the circumstances, all of Inara, Double Whammy and Jet Set Go ran creditably well in defeat. They will certainly find easier opportunities than this and the picking up of black type in this particularly prestigious event is guaranteed to enhance their respective paddock values.
3 gr f Redoute's Choice (AUS) - Spontaneous (CHI) by Hussonet (USA)
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd NSW
Winning trainer: Mike de Kock
Race 7 - R1M - AVONTUUR ESTATE CAPE FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 1)
For 3 year-old Fillies at Set Weights - 1600m |
| No |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Al/Bl |
Kg |
Dr |
Fin |
Dist |
Time |
OP |
SP |
| 1 |
MAJMU (AUS) |
Anthony Delpech |
M F De Kock |
A |
58.0 |
6 |
1 |
0.00 |
99.26 |
1/3 |
3/10 |
| 7 |
INARA |
Grant Van Niekerk |
M W Bass |
A |
58.0 |
2 |
2 |
2.50 |
99.73 |
25/1 |
25/1 |
| 3 |
DOUBLE WHAMMY |
Greg Cheyne |
G S Kotzen |
A |
58.0 |
1 |
3 |
2.90 |
99.81 |
8/1 |
10/1 |
| 5 |
JET SET GO |
M J Byleveld |
V H Marshall |
A |
58.0 |
4 |
4 |
3.40 |
99.91 |
14/1 |
12/1 |
| 10 |
JEWELLER'S JOY |
Karl Neisius |
G S Kotzen |
A |
58.0 |
3 |
5 |
6.40 |
100.49 |
45/1 |
50/1 |
| 9 |
CUVEE BRUT |
Corne Orffer |
B Crawford |
A |
58.0 |
5 |
6 |
7.40 |
100.68 |
45/1 |
50/1 |
| 8 |
SUNSET TRIPP |
Richard Fourie |
S J Snaith |
A |
58.0 |
9 |
7 |
7.70 |
100.74 |
33/1 |
33/1 |
| 4 |
GREY LIGHT |
Sean Cormack |
J Ramsden |
A |
58.0 |
8 |
8 |
9.95 |
101.18 |
45/1 |
33/1 |
| 6 |
ATAAB (AUS) |
Juan Paul V'D Merwe |
M F De Kock |
A |
58.0 |
7 |
9 |
10.00 |
101.19 |
20/1 |
33/1 |
| 2 |
COLD AS ICE |
Scratched |
|
