Double Grand Slam is an easy winner of the Summer Bowl (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Justin Snaith-trained Vercingetorix filly Double Grand Slam was expected to mature into a champion candidate in the older fillies and mares category and she gave a hint of what is to come in the Summer Bowl over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when slamming her perennial rival Rascova and exacting revenge in no uncertain terms on the classy Red Palace.
Double Grand Slam was one of the unluckiest losers of a Gr 1 last season and that happened in the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes when she was squeezed out just as she was set to burst into contention at the 250m mark. That she was able to lift herself to still run a 1,35 length third told the story that she would likely have won the race had it not been for that incident.
In her seasonal reappearance in the Prestige Plate over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville Double Grand Slam might have needed it because after hitting the front at the top of the straight from the box seat she was overtaken and beaten 2,50 lengths by Red Palace.
On Saturday Double Grand Slam was waited with for a lot longer in the straight and this did the trick as her turn of foot was very effective when she was let go and she hauled in Rascova comfortably.
Meanwhile, Red Palace, who raced handy, faded disappointingly. She is surely better than that run and can bounce back.
Her useful stablemate from the Candice Bass-Robinson yard, Rainbow Lorikeet, ran on well to be beaten just half-a-length, although she was receiving 6kg from Double Grand Slam.
The ever reliable Saartjie ran third, beaten 1,50 lengths, and she was 0,30 lengths in front of fourth-placed Rascova. Gold Poker Game was next best, beaten 3,30 lengths.
Double Grand Slam has taken quite a keen hold early in her last two starts but it is not unmanageable and she did respond well to being left alone in the straight, so she could become the finished article this season.
She and Rascova have now met an amazing nine times and the score is 5-4 in favour of Double Grand Slam.
