She would be unbeaten had not S’Manga Khumalo had the sort of ride that jockeys have nightmares about in the Joburg Spring Challenge, getting into as many pockets as a snooker player.
“Majmu has a turn of foot that is unbelievable,” said Mike de Kock after she had put the record straight on Charity Mile day – and seemingly that is not her only attribute. “She is a very straightforward filly. Anybody could train her – even you!” says the eight-time champion trainer. “She is also straightforward to ride.”
Much has been said about stable companion Ataab’s presumed role as pacemaker but apparently it is hardly necessary. “It all depends on how Ataab breaks,” De Kock explains. “If she breaks in front I would be happy to see her lead but she can also come from behind. If it is a slow pace Majmu can accelerate although, that said, I think a good pace always matters to good horses.”
She is a prohibitive price – 3-10 yesterday with Betting World and others– but there are stamina doubts about 4-1 second favourite Cold As Ice who is bidding to become the sixth Choice Carriers winner to take the Fillies Guineas in ten years.
The doubts have been frequently voiced by her trainer but some outstanding work-outs seem to have erased them, at least in Joey Ramsden’s mind. “I now have no worries about her staying the trip,” he says. ”I know she couldn’t stay on pedigree but she relaxes so well.”
But Glen Kotzen and Greg Cheyne are praying that Ataab does break like a scalded cat so that Double Whammy (8-1) doesn’t have to do the donkey work yet again, and can live up to what they believe is her true potential. “She’s had a good preparation and she looks fantastic,” enthuses Kotzen.
The rest are long shots although Vaughan Marshall believes there are grounds for thinking that 14-1 shot Jet Set Go can make up at least some of the two and a half lengths she was beaten in the Choice Carriers. “The extra 200m will [make a difference] and so will the longer run-in,” he reasons.
Mike Bass believes that fourth-placed Inara (25-1) can also step up: “The extra furlong will definitely suit her and she is drawn well which will help. She is a fair filly and I hope she will finish in the frame.”
However Justin Snaith, bidding for his fifth Fillies Guineas in eight seasons, can’t see 33-1 chance Sunset Tripp providing him with a belated 40th birthday present. “This is a big ask and we’ve got our work cut out,” he admits. ”I’m sure Mike de Kock won’t allow a slow pace, and a strong one won’t suit our filly.”
Alboran Sea is, a little surprisingly perhaps, 16-10 favourite for the Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes. She is up against the Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night and she was reported in post-race distress when beaten into fourth at odds-on last time.
“She was only slightly distressed,”says De Kock. “”It was soft ground, she had a hard race against older horses and that took its toll over virtually six furlongs. She is better over five on fast ground.”
Fly By Night could be better value at 7-2 even though Grant van Niekerk has opted for stable companion Lanner Falcon. “Grant kept changing his mind and he now thinks he might be on the wrong one,” says Bass. “Fly By Night has come on since her win and she has an obvious chance.”
