Majmu’s milestone win for Redoute’s Choice

Sheikh Hamdan’s sensational filly Majmu became the eighth multiple Group 1 winner by Redoute’s Choice when she won the Turffontein Empress Club S. 1600m G1 on Saturday.

She also brought up two significant milestones for her champion sire: the 250th stakes win, and the 150th Group win by his progeny. Turffontein was also the scene of Redoute’s Choice’s 149th Group win when Wylie Hall won the Colorado King S.  G2 on 4 April.

Described by trainer Mike de Kock as the best filly he has trained, Majmu was having her first start 18 weeks after her first Group 1 success, in the Kenilworth Cape Fillies Guineas on 6 December.

Sent out favourite at Turffontein, Majmu’s task was made easier when one of her leading rivals, Same Jurisdiction, was declared a nonrunner following a starting gate malfunction.

Jockey Anthony Delpech settled Majmu back midfield, as her fellow Australian-bred Tamaanee took the lead from Smart Call and Banbury,  until the 400-metre mark when Delpech asked Majmu to quicken. The grey filly quickly left the field behind her, to win by three lengths from  Trophy Wife & Tamaanee in a time of 1:37.50, and fill out a hat-trick for Sheikh Hamdan, the de Kock stable and Delpech on the day.

Mike de Kock said, “If she pulls up well she will definitely run again here in a fortnight’s time. She is in the SA Oaks but I would be leaning towards the President’s Champions Challenge (against older horses) over ten furlongs.

“She hasn’t run over her right distance yet. We believe 2,000 to 2,400 metres will not be an issue for her and her temperament and courage are a lot to do with that.”

The stable has since accepted Majmu for the R2 million President’s Champions Challenge G1 on 25 April.

Bred by Arrowfield Stud from the Chilean Group 1 winner Spontaneous (by Hussonet), Majmu was named South Africa’s Champion 2YO filly last season following an unbeaten three-race campaign that ended with an 8.75 length romp in the SA Fillies Nursery G2 on 26 April.

She opened her 3YO season with a Group 2 fourth at Turffontein in October, and has won her three subsequent starts, taking her earnings to R1.8 million.

Majmu was bought from the Arrowfield draft for $300,000 by Angus Gold for Shadwell Australia at the 2013 Inglis Easter Sale. Sadly, Arrowfield lost her dam a few months before selling the Not A Single Doubt-Spontaneous colt for $380,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. 

Angus Gold says of Majmu, “She can be very tough in the box and has a mind of her own, but when she gets out on to the track, either in the morning or the afternoon, she is a thorough professional and a pleasure to work with and seems to be blessed with a  very good temperament which obviously helps her fulfil her potential.

He adds, “With regard to her best distance, I personally have always felt she would be a mile and a quarter filly at least, though she hasn’t yet had the opportunity to prove that either way.

“I very much hope that if all goes well with her in the meantime that Sheikh Hamdan will agree to bring her over to Europe to race at some stage, though it looks as if that won’t be for our upcoming season as she won’t get here in time to race this year.”

The prospect of an international campaign will not faze her champion trainer who is currently supervising the long journey UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij must make to compete in next month’s Kentucky Derby.

Majmu is one of 27 Group 1 winners by Redoute’s Choice who has been represented by 13 winners of 19 Group & Listed Races in Australia, South Africa & New Zealand so far this season.

Majmu is one of three Group performers from only five named foals so far bred on the Redoute’s Choice/Hussonet cross. The other two are Group 3-winning 3YO colt Panzer Division and 2YO filly Regatta Rebel, so impressively 2nd on debut in the ATC Kindergarten S. G3 on the first day of The Championships.