Majmu Crowned ‘Empress’ at Turffontein

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Majmu, facing elders for the first time, never gave her backers a moment of worry with a rust-free victory at Turffontein Saturday. Hammered down to 13-20 favoritism, the imposing grey was away in good order and settled in midpack, three lengths back of Tamaanee, who showed the way through the early going. As challengers emerged turning into the straight, Anthony Delpech gave Majmu her cue, and last season’s champion juvenile filly easily took command with two furlongs still to travel. The Australian-bred quickly distancing herself from the field and was geared down late, but her margin of victory was still three lengths. Trophy Wife closed past Tamaanee to take second, with the latter staying on late to take third. Due to an issue with her stall doors, Same Jurisdiction (SAf) (Mambo in Seattle) was declared a non-starter at the break. 

“When I squeezed her at the 400-meter mark she quickened nicely,” Delpech told Racing Post. “She is top class and I’m going to miss her when she goes overseas.” 

Added De Kock, who was winning this event for the fifth time, “She is a special filly who will go on to bigger and better things and when she goes overseas I am sure she has an international Group 1 in her. She is not straightforward, but when she is right she tells you and when she isn’t she lets you know in just as much of a hurry.” 

Majmu has a trio of nominations for Champions Day at Turffontein Apr. 25 including the G1 S A Oaks and de Kock was upbeat regarding her future. 

“If she pulls up well, she will definitely run again here in a fortnight’s time,” the trainer told Racing Post. “She is in the SA Oaks but I would be leaning towards the [G1] President’s Champions Challenge [against older horses] over 10 furlongs. She hasn’t run over her right distance yet. We believe 2000 to 2400 meters will not be an issue for her and her temperament and courage are a lot to do with that.” 

Majmu rattled off victories in Turffontein’s Listed Ruffian S. to open her account last March, followed by the G3 Pretty Polly S. there later that month. She capped her season with a win in the 1160-meter G2 S A Fillies Nursery S. before being spelled until the autumn. The grey suffered her first loss five months later when reappearing in the G2 Joburg Spring F & M Challenge going 1450 meters in October, but rebounded to added the G3 HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco Starling S. to her ledger Nov. 1 and landed Kenilworth’s G1 Avonturr Estate Cape Fillies Guineas when trying a mile for the first time Dec. 6.