Rascova beats Double Grand Slam in last year’s Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas over the Hollywoodbets Greyville 1600m coure and distance of te Ridgemont Garden Province, but Double Grand Slam reversed form when an extremely unlucky third in last year’s Garden Province.(Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes sees most of the best miler fillies in he country clashing in what will be one of the races of the day on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.
The arch rivals Double Grand Slam and Rascova stand out on form as they easily accounted for the dual Gr 1-winning three-year-old filly Fatal Flaw in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes.
Rasova won that race by a hair’s breadth and displayed her courage, whilst there was just a shorthead also separating them last time out when they were both luckless in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.
Double Grand Slam was ahead in the latter race and that made it 7-5 in her favour in their 12 clashes.
This time Rascova is favoured because Double Gand Slam’s usual jockey Richard Fourie is contracted to ride for Ridgemont and so will be riding the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas winner Mon Petit Cherie, who is improving but is not quite up to the same class as Double Grand Slam.
The latter is not a straight forward ride and Fourie went around runners early on in the Majorca after initially being at the back and that might suggest she did not settle perfectly.
Andrew Fortune takes over from Fourie and has a tricky draw of nine to contend with, which won’t be easy if indeed it was a case of her not settling perfectly in the Majorca, although he could take her forward.
Rascova has a good draw of six and Gavin Lerena stays aboard. It is only her second run for the Sean Tarry yard and is her second run after a layoff, but she looked fit enogh last time in the SA Flllies Sprint.
Asiye Phambili is full of class and although her Graded success has come over sprints she did on one occassion win three in a row over this trip, so she could be a player if able to overcome the widest draw of all.
Green Sapphire has won impressively twice over 1400m and was caught wide when well back in the WSB Guineas. A good draw here gives her another chance to prove she stays.
The Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Fatal Flaw beat older horses when winning the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes so she could still be involved here and the Majorca might have been a below par run.
Spumante Dolce is progressive and if able to overcome a wide draw should be in the shake up.
White Pearl and Minogue have the class to earn.
Just Be Lekker has plenty of ability but needs to prove she stays this trip at this level.
Those are the horses who make most appeal.
Rscova is selected to beat Double Grand Slam with Asiye Phambile, Green Sapphire and Fatal Flaw next best.
