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Rascova only just prevails under Gavin Lerena, beating her arch rival Double Grand Slam by a hair’s breadth. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Rascova/Double Grand Slam rivalry had its 11th renewal on Saturday at Hollywodbets Kenilworth in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes and Rascova scored by a hair’s breadth under Gavin Lerena.

The tally is now 6-5 in favour Of Double Grand Slam.

Rascova gave owners Eugene and Sandy Arundel of Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd their first Gr 1 winner. The Cheveley Stud-bred Lancaster Bomber filly had also previously given the couple their first Listed winner as well as their first Graded winner.

Cape Breeders wrote the following article about Saturday’s Majorca:

RASCOVA eked out a wafer-thin margin victory over odds on favourite DOUBLE GRAND SLAM in the Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes (WFA) (Gr 1) over 1600m. The winner is a daughter of Lancaster Bomber out of the Western Winter mare, Netsuke and was bred at Cheveley Stud.

The diminutive filly may be somewhat non-descript physically but in trainer Glen Kotzen’s words, has “the heart of a lion”.

Indeed, the sterling RASCOVA has competed at the highest level throughout her career, and this was a deserved success in a prestigious Gr 1 which carries significant value for breeding.

High percentage jock, Gavin Lerena, did everything just right: getting into the trail behind FATAL FLAW, then making a late surge in the final stages down the rail.

DOUBLE GRAND SLAM, slow out, unsettled down the backside and wide, made an early dash for glory but missed out on the bob in a photo finish, having run five meters further according to Gallop track data.

3YO filly, ROCCAPINA, ran well to secure third stretching out to a mile with KINDA WONDERFUL in fourth. Early leader, FATAL FLAW, ran below par after blowing like a gale in the betting (15/10 out to 5’s). She led at a moderate pace, before weakening uncharacteristically out the money.