DONT Think Twice joined an exclusive Gold Crown Carnival club at the Bathurst Paceway on Saturday night when she pulled off the second leg of the fillies feature double.
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Twelve months after she won the Gold Tiara for trainer-driver Jason Grimson, she added the three-year-old Gold Bracelet to her list of successes.
In taking out the final, which this year was elevated to Group 2 status, Dont Think Twice joined other talented fillies Nemeeshar (2003-4), Lady Euthenia (2009-10), Aussie Made Lombo (2010-11) and Frith (2012-13) in pulling off the carnival double.
While Grimson worked his $1.30 favourite three wide early in the 2,260 metres final after going from barrier six, she did not take long to lob into the death seat.
There Grimson waited until the 400m mark when he asked his filly for one more effort. She responded and ran away from her rivals to make it nine wins from 16 starts.
“I didn’t want to do too much work early and it worked out pretty good. She found the front pretty easily when one dropped off and she was very powerful,” Grimson said.
“She’s definitely improved from last year and she’s so versatile. You can sit her in the chair and she comes back to you and then when you say ‘Go’, she goes.”
After winning her heat five days earlier in convincing fashion, Dont Think Twice dominated the betting with Rocknroll Emma ($7.50) the only other runner in single figures.
It was that pair that sat in first and second with a lap to go, Rocknroll Emma having worked to the lead after zipping away from barrier two.
With 800m to go there was less than a length between the pair, but the effort of running a 28 seconds split for the third quarter told on Rocknroll Emma.
Dont Think Twice was eyeballing her at the 400m mark and quickly put a length between them.
As Rocknroll Emma faded and eventually finished eighth, Dont Think Twice went on with the job.
The Armbro Operative x Nikalongboulevard filly led by two lengths as she balanced at the top of the straight, a 29.7 final split enough to hold off the chasing pack.
Dont Think Twice rated 1:57.3 in winning the $50,000 feature, the effort ranking as the third quickest in the 18-year history of the Gold Bracelet.
The minor placings belonged to a pair of fillies from Craig Cross’ Cobbitty stables.
Cherry Stride ($8.10), who had sat on the leader’s back for much of the journey, finished 4½m behind the victor with Luke McCarthy in the gig.
A further 3m behind her was the Todd McCarthy driven Olive Stride ($108.60).
