The power combination of Justin Snaith and Grant van Niekerk made it a snap feature double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when the Varsfontein-bred Double Grand Slam sauntered to victory in the R250 000 SplashOut Gr3 Prix Du Cap.
Double Grand Slam (Grant van Niekerk) registers her maiden stakes victory in classy style (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
After a puzzling below-par effort in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, and a cracking third behind Princess Calla in the City Of Cape Town Gr1 Majorca Stakes, Double Grand Slam registered her maiden stakes victory in classy style on Saturday and now looks a serious contender for feature honours in Durban from May to July.
Ridden to perfection by Van Niekerk, who was sporting a mod new hairstyle for the big day, Double Grand Slam (5-1) was unleashed at the 300m and ran away from her field to beat the favourite October Morn (7-2) by 3 lengths in a time of 86,91 secs for the 1400m.
The gallant Rascova (5-1) never runs a poor race and made the pace, before tiring to run third a further 0,40 lengths back.
Highveld champion Mrs Geriatrix (9-2) was seen running on late down the outside, and was also a further 0,40 lengths back to round off the quartet.
A R1 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Double Grand Slam was bred by Varsfontein from Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the two-time winning Captain Al mare Princess Peach. She is thus bred on the same Vercingetorix/Captain Al cross as the exported Gr1 winner Vernichey.
Double Grand Slam has won 3 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R470 763.
Gary Player and his son Wayne were on course with co-owner Suzette Viljoen, who enjoyed a feature double after Royal Aussie won the Jet Master Stakes a half hour earlier.
Hall of fame golfer Gary Player said that he had named the filly Double Grand Slam after his unique achievements. He is one of only five golfers to achieve a Career Grand Slam by winning all four majors, and is the only golfer on that list to have won a Grand Slam on the Senior Tour too.
A racing expert pointed out to the Sporting Post that Double Grand Slam is raced in partnership by Dave Maclean, Gary Player and Suzette Viljoen.
Take the three owner’s first name initials – D, G, S. Then the filly’s name – Double Grand Slam.
Interesting? Maybe!
Enjoy the replay:
