Peter’s VDJ dreams come true
HIGHVELD trainer Paul Peter said having a runner in the Vodacom Durban July was a dream come true and he and jockey Callan Murray were both confident of the chances of the yard’s charge Majestic Mambo. The strapping Mambo In Seattle colt did his July gallop at Turffontein earlier this week and Murray was “very pleased” with the work. Peter said Majestic Mambo had come out of his second place finish in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 “very well” and had “actually improved” since then.
He displayed his usual devastating turn of foot from the back that day and was flying at the finish, losing by just 0,75 lengths to the top class Highveld horse Surcharge.
That race pointed to the three-year-old male strength this year lying in the Highveld as they had four of the best from the Cape, Tap O’ Noth, Do It Again, White River and Pack Leader behind them.
There were some groans from the audience on Tuesday in Greyville’s Classic Room when Majestic Mambo drew wide in 19.
However, Peter said, “The draw is not so bad for this type of horse, he doesn’t want to be cramped, so I am not too perturbed.”
He added, “We are going in with a lot of confidence. We are really happy so please God he travels down well and everything goes well before the race. He is in with a big shout.”
There is a chance Majestic Mambo could run in a famous set of colours in the July as a sale with a big South African owner was being negotiated at the time of going to press.
Folk Dance
Peter has another Grade 1 runner on the day in Folk Dance, a classy three-year-old filly by Tiger Ridge, who runs in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m. She ran below par last time in the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m last time out but Peter said she had not travelled down well on that occasion and had knocked herself in the float.
She won the Grade 3 Fillies Mile by three lengths on Sansui Summer Cup day to stamp herself as one of the best of her crop, but since then has had to deal with a succession of tough draws, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, fifth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and fourth in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m.
She now at last has a plum draw of two, which is important for her as she likes to lie handy before using her telling kick in the straight. The likely favourite Snowdance has drawn pole position and as this horse is usually a front-runner, the race could pan out well for Folk Dance. She has the added bonus of Piere Strydom aboard.