The Australian-bred grey boosted her reputation sky-high when she totally outclassed the opposition in the Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday and her famous globe-trotting trainer is intent on the world stage with his latest star.

Mike de Kock, winning his third Cape Fillies Guineas, said: “I will talk to Angus Gold (racing manager for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum) but the Met is definitely in our thinking and it might be her last start here if she is exported.

“I don’t see any need for her to run again before that but, if I do run her, it will be in Jo’burg. We will definitely export her eventually because I believe she is well capable of winning a Group 1 abroad.”

Saturday’s race was robbed of a lot of its significance when second favourite Cold As Ice plunged through the pens, giving Bernard Fayd’Herbe a nasty fall and galloping the full mile of the race. A bitterly disappointed Joey Ramsden felt he had no choice but to withdraw her while De Kock sympathised: “To get to the start in a Group 1 and not get a run is gut-wrenching and I’m gutted for Joey, Finchy and the boys. It took a bit of a shine off the race.”

Fayd’Herbe, who sprained his neck and was stood down for the rest of the day, saw it coming and believes it should have been avoided.

He explained: “She played up and I called to the starter for them to let me out. They didn’t and she broke through the gate.”

Anthony Delpech is still haunted by the ghost of Igugu’s defeat by Ebony Flyer four years ago and he disclosed afterwards that this lay at the heart of his decision-making.

He said: “Igugu got all lost round here and I rode her too confidently – I didn’t get aggressive early enough – and that’s why I rode Majmu the way I did. I wouldn’t have gone clear at the 500m otherwise.

“I also pulled the trigger early because my pacemaker was coming in on me and I wasn’t sure that he knew I was there. She will be better when I can chase a couple home and I think she wants further.”

Indeed it was only in the final furlong that the 30-100 hotpot really came into her own. She seemed to slip into another gear as she strode away and the two-and-a-half-length margin said far more about the way Delpech allowed her to ease than her superiority.

De Kock commented: “The further she goes the better she will be and I thought she won this in facile fashion. She is a tough, strong filly who weighs in excess of 500kg. She is straightforward although fairly temperamental in that she knows what she wants – but I suppose that is typical of most of the female species!”

The surprise packet was 25-1 shot Inara who ran on into second and Mike Bass is now targeting the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes on 10 January.

He said: “She will be comfortable over 1 800m. She is not the most robust filly but she has ability and next season she will come into her own.”

Greg Cheyne made his move on Double Whammy immediately Delpech made his (“she moved up well and stayed on”) but Glen Kotzen was concerned about the way she lost second close home – ”I don’t think she quite gets a mile and she will probably go for a sprint next.”

Vaughan Marshall immediately ruled out suggestions of the Paddock Stakes for Jet Set Go (fourth) and said: “I will take her to Jo’burg and have a crack at the Triple Tiara.”

Picture: Liesl King

Bass said: ”It’s the Diadem on 27 December next and then probably the Cape Flying (24 Jan) but bear in mind I’ve also done the Sceptre (17 Jan) as well in the past!

“This was a good run from Fly By Night. Alboran Sea went for her life and it was a big ask to catch her. But mine was good enough to do it.”

Stable companion Lanner Falcon (fifth) was severely handicapped by a slipping saddle which, to Grant van Niekerk’s consternation, began to go backwards soon after the start

If Alboran Sea is again in opposition on 24 January she won’t risk being the hare a second time as Mike de Kock said: “This is the wrong place to go to the front.”

Darryl Hodgson and Hassen Adams had some compensation for Fairyinthewoods’ recent career-ending injury when Gerrit Schlechter got Dressed In Cotton up on the line in the Val De Ra Southeaster Sprint.

Hodgson said: “Fairyinthewoods (winner of last year’s Southern Cross) damaged her near-fore tendon in her final gallop for this race. I am very disappointed because I feel she would have won again.

“She now goes to stud – Hassen will decide which stallion – while Dressed In Cotton will run in the Diadem although he won’t be as well in as he was here.”

Picture: Fly By Night gets the better of Alboran Sea in the Southern Cross Stakes at Kenilworth yesterday. (Liesl King)

The three-year-old form is still unravelling at this stage of the season, but the Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred grey could hardly have been more impressive and brought back memories of the champion trainer’s best ever horse, the mighty Horse Chestnut, when accelerating away from the field in effortless fashion in the closing stages to win by 2,5 lengths under Anthony Delpech.

Her starting odds shortened to 3/10 after Cold As Ice had burst through the stalls, dislodging her jockey and galloping to the parade ring.

Majmu broke well and was initially in the front before her stablemate Ataab, who was a bit slowly away, rounded her and set the good pace that would best suit her. Delpech took Majmu to the front quite early in the straight as he had to squeeze through a gap between Ataab and the rail. However, he then gave her a breather until the 400m mark.

In the meantime the new second favourite, the Glen Kotzen-trained Double Whammy, had produced a fine turn of foot from midfield and was going like a freight train on the rail, while the Mike Bass-trained Inara was also making a strong forward move. However, just when an upset looked possible, Majmu was given more rein and simply accelerated away from the danger. Inaara finished second, narrowly ahead of Double Whammy, and Jet Set Go was next best.

De Kock’s first words were one of sympathy for the connections of Cold As Ice, but he went on to confirm that Majmu would be staying on in Cape Town.

Gr 1 Races like the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes, the Klawervlei Majorca and even the J &B Met will be possibilities for this exciting filly. After yesterday’s win she already has one leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara under her belt and looks a virtual certainty to become the new darling of the South African turf.

Earlier, the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner, the Mike Bass-trained Fly By Night, showed her class by winning the Gr 2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m. The ever improving five-year-old Jet Master mare tracked the Gr 1 Allan Robertson winner, the De Kock-trained Alboran Sea, before producing a telling late run under Bernard Fayd’Herbe to catch the latter in the shadow of the post and win by 0,5 lengths. The merit of the performance of both horses was illustrated by the gap of 6,25 lengths between them and the rest of a quality field, which was headed by Savannah Song. Alboran Sea was backed in to 11/10 favourite and Fly By Night started at 3/1.

The Listed Val De Ra Southeaster Sprint over 1100m was won by the Darry Hodgson-trained six-year-old gelding Dressed In Cotton under Gerrit Schlechter, despite being 2kg under sufferance. The Justin Snaith-trained favourite Daring Dave overtook the pacesetter and second favourite Captain Of All close to home and looked the winner, but was caught on the line by Dressed In Cotton, while another outsider, Villa Del Largo, got up to dead-heat with his stablemate for second.

 Picture: Majmu and Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

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 40^th 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.”

Taking a horse down from Johannesburg to Cape Town for a big race is no easy task, as was highlighted by the great De Kock-trained Igugu’s defeat in the Cape Fillies Guineas in 2010. The depth of class in the field that Majmu faces is greater and is headed by a filly in the Joey Ramsden-trained Cold As Ice who could still be anything.

De Kock’s other runner Ataab has the same owner as Majmu and could well ensure the good pace that Majmu will need in order to unleash her powerful finishing run.  The only concern for Majmu is that she has never raced around a left hand turn, but she was shown the turn by big race jockey Anthony Delpech yesterday (Thursday).

Cold As Ice kicked on superbly from a handy position in the slow run Gr 2 Choice Carriers Championship over 1400m last time out. She would love another “Cape crawl” as she has a stamina doubt, but is unlikely to get it and her draw of eight in the small ten-horse field is tricky.

Majmu is drawn six and Ataab, fresh from a decent third place in last weekend’s Gr 3 Fillies Mile at Kenilworth, is one outside of her. Ataab will be very fit and could stay on for a place.

Choice Carriers runner-up Double Whammy is known as a front-runner but was reportedly tucked in behind two horses in work the other day and the result had trainer Glen Kotzen and jockey Greg Cheyne excited. She is drawn in pole and could be in the box seat if Ataab is sent to the front.

Jet Set Go and Inara stayed on gamely for third and fourth in the Choice Carrriers without making inroads.

Grey Light has impressed with her strong finishing run before but was too far back in the Choice Carriers from a wide draw. She has another wide draw but will appreciate the longer straight and could earn.

Jeweller’s Joy didn’t enjoy much luck in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m but still managed a running on 3,75 length sixth to an exciting unbeaten colt. She is drawn well in three. Sunset Tripp set the pace in the Ready To Run Stakes and stayed on gamely for a 2,75 length third. However, she has never been this trip before and is widely drawn again. Cuvee Brut has run on well to win her last two sprints, but this a big step up in class.

Majmu is selected to beat Cold As Ice with Double Whammy, Ataab and Grey Light next best.

The weight for age Gr 2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m is an intriguing race, but Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night would have come on from her reappearance win and might have too much class. Rosier and Varikate both likely needed their last starts and have weight turnarounds with Fly By Night. Gr 1-winning speedster Alboran Sea should love this tough 1000m and has a fine chance if at her best. Lanner Falcon and Priceless Jewel would prefer further, but have class and can’t be ignored.

In the Listed Val de Ra Southeaster Sprint Daring Dave will enjoy the drop down to 1100m and is improving with each race. Happy Forever should be cherry-ripe and will enjoy this trip. Crescendo is a tough galloping type and could be good place value. Captain On The Run should do well with a light weight. Captain Of All is all class and is fit, but it will be tough to win with 61kg after a break of over a year.

The improving Ideal Countess could win the first from Sister Act.

Fire Master is well regarded and will appreciate the 200m extra of the second race, so if jumping better than last time looks to be a good bet. Upper Echelon has a good draw for a change and could win the third over 1400m. She would probably prefer 1600m but does wear first-time blinkers.

Improving stayer Even So has a perfect draw for his front-running style and could claim a hat-trick with a light weight in the fourth over 2400m.

The eighth could go to the well regarded Mint Master who is better than his last start, although topweight Lotus Lily Lake looks useful and could prove a tough nut to crack.

The impressive Bianzino should love the longer straight of the new course and could win the ninth. The last could be fought out by the improving Street Flyer and Master Runner, who was green on his fair debut.

Picture: Cold As Ice and Double Whammy (Liesl King)