MAJMU, last season’s Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, makes her long-awaited ocomeback this Saturday when she lines up in the R400,000 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge over 1450m on the inside track at Turffontein, reports Nicci Garner of Phumelela.
Mathew de Kock with Majmu.
She has not run since but is weighted to win this Grade 2 race, being considered 11 points, or 5.50 lengths superior to her best rival, Athina, from whom she will receive 7.5kg (the equivalent of nearly four lengths).
Assistant trainer Mathew de Kock warned that this is a preparatory run before she journeys to Cape Town to run in the Cape Fillies Guineas.
“Her work is very good and she’s doing well, but there are a few question marks,” he said. “Firstly, she is stepping up in distance. She’s bred to stay the distance but no race is run on paper. It’s also her first time round the bend and the inside track is not the easiest turn.
“She’s had a long layoff and will improve with the run. We’re looking for something positive to build on for the rest of the season.”
He also pointed out that Majmu will be meeting older horses for the first time, so this will be an acid test.
The Mike de Kock stable also has Maayaat in the race and the trainer’s son says she has surprised them, winning her last two starts after finishing second in her debut.
“She’s just kept improving and we’re throwing her in at the deep end so we know where we stand with her,” he said.
He believes year-older Athina is possibly the fillies’ biggest danger. Joe Soma’s charge won the SA Fillies Classic this year and went on to run second to In The Fast Lane in the Woolavington 2000. The winner that day went on to run a close fifth behind Legislate in the Durban July, so the form looks strong.
The runners for the R400,000 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge (Grade 2, weight-for-age) over 1450m:
| 1 | 4 | NEGEV | Louis Goosen | G Wrogemann | 60.0 | 95 |
| 2 | 6 | CLASSIC ILLUSION | Gary Alexander | I Sturgeon | 60.0 | 92 |
| 3 | 10 | MOGGYTWOSHOES | Louis Goosen | J Sampson | 60.0 | 91 |
| 4 | 2 | ATHINA | Joe Soma | P Strydom | 59.5 | 103 |
| 5 | 1 | TOUCH THE SKY | Geoff Woodruff | A Aucharuz | 59.5 | 102 |
| 6 | 8 | ARCETRI PINK (AUS) | Geoff Woodruff | R Danielson | 59.5 | 101 |
| 7 | 12 | WINTER STAR | Johan Janse v Vuuren | G Lerena | 59.5 | 100 |
| 8 | 5 | SUPREME SUNSET | Mike Bass | S Cormack | 59.5 | 94 |
| 9 | 11 | MOHAVE PRINCESS (A | Gavin van Zyl | K de Melo | 59.5 | 93 |
| 10 | 13 | VIRGO’S BABE | David Nieuwenhuizen | W Marwing | 59.5 | 93 |
| 11 | 9 | PURE POWER | Mike Bass | M Mienie | 59.5 | 86 |
| 12 | 7 | MAJMU (AUS) | Mike de Kock | S Khumalo | 52.0 | 114 |
| 13 | 3 | MAAYAAT (AUS) | Mike de Kock | T Appie | 52.0 | 80 |
Same trainer: (1 & 3) (5 & 6) (8 & 11) (12 & 13)
The runners for the R400,000 Joburg Spring Challenge (Grade 2, weight-for-age) over 1450m:
| 1 | 8 | NO WORRIES | Gavin van Zyl | K de Melo | 60.0 | 109 |
| 2 | 2 | MIDNIGHT RUN | Mike Bass | S Cormack | 60.0 | 105 |
| 3 | 6 | SNOWDON | Ormond Ferraris | W Marwing | 60.0 | 105 |
| 4 | 4 | ZANZIBAR MAN | Leon Erasmus | J Greyling | 60.0 | 79 |
| 5 | 7 | RAKE’S CHESTNUT | Geoff Woodruff | G Lerena | 59.5 | 107 |
| 6 | 3 | HEART OF A LION | Gavin van Zyl | P Strydom | 59.5 | 92 |
| 7 | 5 | MERCADO | Sean Tarry | S Khumalo | 59.5 | 89 |
| 8 | 1 | MOUNTAIN MASTER | Mike Bass | M Mienie | 59.5 | 86 |
Same trainer: (1 & 6) (2 & 8)
