Majmu, Same Jurisdiction in dream match-up
THE match that everybody has been waiting for, Majmu versus Same Jurisdiction, will happen at last in the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.
The Duncan Howells-trained Mambo In Seattle filly Same Jurisdiction is being taken care of at Turffontein by Joey Soma and KZN champion trainer Howells said yesterday that she had come out of her narrow defeat in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic on March 28 “exceptionally well’’.
He added that her preparation for Saturday's race had gone according to plan and that the veterinarian had checked her and confirmed her to be 100% sound.
Howells said about the going, which was “very soft’’ for the SA Fillies Classic, “I think the soft going over 1800m might not have suited her as she probably only just stays 1800m in good going. But over 1600m it shouldn't worry her as long as it’s not a quagmire. The 1600m is her right distance.’’
The weather forecast predicts 18mm between yesterday and tomorrow with no rain on Saturday, so the going should be suitable for good racing.
Same Jurisdiction made up a lot of ground in the straight of the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, despite having been bowled at the start and clipping heels shortly thereafter.
However, she was not at her very peak and faded late.
This time she should be in peak condition and is drawn superbly in barri- er four with the brilliant big race rider Piere Strydom aboard.
The Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred Redoute’s Choice filly Majmu will still be a very tough nut to crack as she looks to be a great in the making and form evidence to date would suggest that only luck in running, or having an off day, can beat her. She was considered the most likely horse to land the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara after her amazing win in the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas.
She looked to have possibly gone for home too early in that race as jockey Anthony Delpech had decided to squeeze her through a narrow gap at the top of the straight.
However, when the challengers loomed up she found another gear and simply powered away from them to win easing up by 2,5 lengths. In the manner of all great racehorses, she had made top horses look ordinary and just how good those horses were was proven when the runner up Inara came out and won two prestigious weight for age Gr 1 races in January, beating older females in the process.
Furthermore, Majmu is the only female to date to have beaten Siren's Call, who now looks to be an odds-on shot to land the Triple Tiara, having won both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the SA Fillies Classic, beating Same Jurisdiction in both races. In fact, Majmu not only beat Siren's Call but gave her 4kg and a 1,75 length thrashing in their only meeting over 1400m, so on strict formlines Same Jurisdiction’s hopes of beating her look forlorn.
Majmu was scratched from the SA Fillies Classic and Mathew de Kock explained at the time, “Majmu is a little behind in her fitness and we won't be chasing the Triple Tiara for the sake of it. She took her time to recover after her journey back from the Guineas in Cape Town and putting her back in a Gr 1 race over 1800m at this stage will be too hard on her. The Empress Club Stakes will fit better into her schedule.’’
Mathew confirmed this week in a videoed interview with Andrew Bonn that the yard expected Majmu to give close to her best performance, although he added that she would likely come on from the run and probably be at her absolute peak next time out.
Majmu's draw of eight should be of little concern to Delpech as she settles well and appears to make up ground effortlessly in the straight before changing into topgear.
Controversy
Some will view the clash as the settlement of an argument that arose in the wake of last season’s Equus Champion two-year-old filly Award, although that would ignore the fact that both horses are now three-yearsold.
The controversy arose due to the hitherto unbeaten Majmu having received the award despite having never raced in a Gr 1 event before.
All of her wins had been in feature races, including an 8,75 length romp against a below par field in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery, and she had also been accorded the highest merit rating for a two-year-old filly in South African history. However, she unfortunately fell ill before her Gr 1 programme had begun.
Some believed that the award had made a mockery of the graded system and that Same Jurisdiction should have been named champion, having won all three of her starts following her debut defeat, including a victory over the other Gr 1-winning nominees, Carry On Alice and Bilateral, in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes.
It would be dangerous to ignore the other runners in a high quality field on Saturday. A much better run from can be expected here by Banbury, who will attempt to give Gavin van Zyl two successive wins in this race. She overraced when taken too handy in the SA Fillies Classic and her win in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile proved that she is better when held up.
She should find a nice position for free from pole position. The older horses Hammie's Hooker and Arcetri Pink have proven themselves top class and the latter appears to grow an extra leg when the going is soft so must be hugely respected in those conditions. Trophy Wife has consistently been close up behind Siren's Call and will enjoy the 1600m trip, especially in fast conditions. Smart Call was only beaten a length by Trophy Wife in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. Tamanee should finish close to that pair.
Not Sulking has class and is course and distance suited too. The ever improving Whatalady is an interesting runner, but has a tough task from a wide draw. Winter Star will be stretched by the trip, especially from her wide draw, and Enchanted Silk looks outclassed.