Aussie Action in South Africa

Aussie breds were expected to star at the Turffontein meeting in South Africa overnight and while boom More Than Ready (USA) colt Banaadeer was beaten into second place in the Group I SA Nursery Stakes, there were still a pair of Group II victories for Redoute's Choice duo Majmu and Honorine.

Exciting two year-old Majmu kept her unbeaten record intact when she streeted her rivals to win the Group II SA Fillies Nursery over 1160 metres by almost nine lengths.

She now won a Listed Race, a Group III event and a Group II race in her first three starts, stamping herself as quite possibly the best juvenile in South Africa.

Trained by Mike de Kock for Sheikh Hamdan, Majmu was a $300,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Shadwell from the Arrowfield Stud draft and is the second foal of Spontaneous (Chi), a Group I winner in South America by Hussonet.

Sadly, Spontaneous died last year and her final foal, a yearling colt by Not a Single Doubt was sold earlier this year at Magic Millions for $380,000 to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Making it a stakes double for Redoute's Choice was three year-old Honorine, who beat another Aussie bred in Tiger Quest (3f Where's That Tiger (USA) x Sempervirent) to win the Group II Camellia Stakes over 1160 metres by half a length.

It was the fourth win for the Mike de Kock trained mare and her first Black Type success, although she was third in the Group I Golden Horseshoe, so has always shown a lot of potential.

Honorine was an $80,000 purchase for Form Bloodstock from the Bellerive Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and is the best of three winners for well bred mare Zaldivar, a half-sister by Honour and Glory (USA) to five stakes-winners including Daralinsha and Gentle Genius from the family of multiple Group I winner Darjina.

Zaldivar is now with Yarradale Stud in WA and was covered last year by War Chant (USA).