Rascova gets the better of Double Grand Slam in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Glen Kotzen might have a big team at the Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting on July 6 and it could include Rascova, who will clash with her arch rival Double Grand Slam for the eighth time in the Gr 1 Ridegemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.
Rascova has faced the Justin Snaith-trained Double Grand Slam in all of her last seven races and has beaten her four times and lost to her three times.
Last time she beat her in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas, although Double Grand Slam was tightened up against the outside fence and seemed reluctant to go through the gap.
Double Grand Slam has the opportunity for revenge and has won the first battle bacause this time she has the better of the draw, having landed draw three out of 17, although the Sean Tarry-trained Mrs Browning’s supplementary entry makes it 18 entries and the latter still has to be allocated a draw.
Rascova drew wide in 16.
Glen’s Gr 1 Woolavington runner up Hold My Hand has unfortunately drawn wide for both the Garden Province Stakes and the Gr 3 Campanajo 2200.
He said, “She’s matured into a beautiful filly. She ran a place in the Garden Province last year and can do so again, but 2000m is down her alley so she should stay the 2200m trip of the July Consolation too. She has only gone beyond 2000m once, in last year’s Oaks in KZN, and it was a disappointing run because she was favourite and never settled.”
She has drawn 15 out of 17 entries in the Garden Province and 35 out of 36 in the Campanajo 2200, so looks likely to go for the Garden Province.
In the Woolavington she jumped from draw nine out of ten and was dropped out to the back. She then came wide into the straight and yet still managed to stay on strongly to be beaten just 0,70 lengths by Silver Sanctuary.
The latter is also in the Garden Province but still stands her ground in the Hollywoodbets Durban July as well.
Kotzen has also entered the progressive Lady Heist in the Garden Province and she has drawn eight.
She finished a cracking short-head second in a Pinnacle event on Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge day, beating the like of Double Superlative.
He has also entered Lady Heist in the Listed Compendium Insurance Thukela Handicap over 1600m.
In the Gr 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m on July day Kotzen will have a strong hand.
He has entered his Listed Hollywoodbets Super League Devon Air Stakes winner Whistle The Tune as well as recent impressive 8,60 length debut winner over 1200m Lock And Key (Master Of My Fate) and also Disting (Global View) and Spirit Of Levana (Fire Away), who won second time out over 1400m.
Spirit Of Levena was beaten 4,20 lengths by the smart Gimmie’s Countess first time out over 1200m on the poly and in her 1400m victory she beat a horse who came out and ran second again next time out.
In Disting’s first KZN start, her third career start, she won a maiden over 1200m by 3,60 lengths.
Kotzen said, “In the Gr 1 Allan Robertson we never expected her in the front, but she pinged the pens and nobody went. In her previous start she came from off them and her 400m to finish was phenomenal. She was fine in front this time until another horse joined her and then she overraced, which is fine, it is part of learning. Her mother Our Destiny (Var) got beaten a short-head in the Cape Fillies Guineas, so she should get the 1400m quite easily.”
Kotzen also has Disting in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m together with Commanding (William Longsword) and United Nation (One World).
He said about the latter pair, “They were so disappointing in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion, running last and second last. Both pulled up with mucus in the lungs and coughing, unbelievable, because they showed no sign of it before the race and their work had been phenomenal.”
In the Gr 2 Post Merchants Kotzen has entered the promising sprinters Ripple Effect and Countdown and they both have fair draws among a big entry of 36.
In the Thukela he also has Last One Standing, Blackberry Malt, Grinkov, Virginia Sweet and also Countdown.
