Experienced Gauteng-based jockey Gunther Wrogemann has landed the ride on the unbeaten Paul Peter-trained star Majestic Mambo for the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and former South African Champion Jockey Gavin Lerena stays aboard Peter’s star filly Folk Dance for the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

Peter is more confident of Folk Dance’s chances than Majestic Mambo’s due to the distance of the two races and the respective quality of the opposition.

Gavin Lerena (Liesl King)

He said, “Majestic Mambo would prefer further, but we have to take our chances because it’s the first leg of the Triple Crown. But, I think it will be the hardest leg for him. He is doing very, very well and the draw is not a problem because he comes from off the pace.”

He added, “The colts race has a lot of hard-knockers. There is Big Bear and Mike de Kock has a lot of good horses and Monk’s Hood is a definite danger, but please God things go our way, because he does stay well and the next two legs will be easier for him.”

The Mambo In Seattle colt cost, just R40,000 at a CTS Ready To Run Sale and has put daylight between himself and the opposition in all three of his starts, all over 1800m. He won his maiden by 5,5 lengths, his second start (in a Novice Handicap off a merit rating of 83) by 4 lengths and then the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes by 2,25 lengths. In the latter race he showed a devastating turn of foot from last place. Anthony Delpech rode Majestic Mambo in his last two starts, but is retained by the owners of Monk’s Hood, Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

Peter said of Folk Dance, “She is very well. She has a wide draw but she has a lot of gatespeed and has a quick turn of foot. She is ideally course and distance suited.”

This classy Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Tiger Ridge filly was bought for R100,000 at the National Yearling Sale. She has won four of six starts, including the Grade 3 Fillies Mile by three lengths in her last start on Sansui Summer Cup day. Lerena has ridden her in her last two starts.

Peter regards the De Kock pair, Fish River and Silver Thursday, as the chief dangers.

He runs Fort Ember in a Pinnacle Stakes event on the day and said she was very well.

He also runs the progressive Imperial Stride gelding Pera Palace in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes and thinks he will handle the step up to 1400m, so is quietly confident.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Big Bear (Candiese Marnewick)