An emotional trainer Dean Kannemeyer paid tribute to late leading owner Mike Rattray at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday after classy 3yo Waterberry Lane stamped his superiority in the famous red and white silks with a resounding victory in the Gr3 Byerley Turk.
Mr Rattray, a lifetime supporter of racing and breeding in South Africa, passed away after an illness on Tuesday last week, just months short of his 90th birthday. The successful and respected businessman had been a longstanding supporter of the Kannemeyer family racing operation dating back to the days when Dean was learning the ropes under his late Dad, Peekay.
Keagan de Melo and Waterberry Lane come home lonely in the Gr3 Byerley Turk (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Returning from a break and gelding after a rare below-par run in the Cape Guineas last December after haemoconcentrating, the handsome son of Soft Falling Rain sprouted wings in the final 300m to register an emphatic comeback win after an 106 day break.
With the in-form Keagan de Melo posing for the cameras, Waterberry Lane (6-1) beat Hasta Manana (7-1) by 2,50 lengths in a time of 85,15 secs.
Never Ending Rain (20-1) ran on into third a further 0,40 lengths back.
A winner of the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe last term, Waterberry Lane produced a special performance from a wide draw over the 1400m and will now be aimed at the WSB Guineas on 7 May.
“This is a very emotional moment for the myself and the team. The Rattray family have been loyal Kannemeyer patrons since as far back as I can remember. My best wishes to Norma (Rattray) and the family. They watched the race today from the farm. I feel honoured and privileged to have saddled the winner. He is a lovely horse – he has so much Fort Wood about him,” said Dean as he raised his hand skywards and promised the top owner that he would be nominating his top 3yo for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Teamwork! Dean Kannemeyer is flanked by Keagan de Melo and Assistant Nicolette Roscoe (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
It is well documented that a Durban July victory was the one prize in racing that had eluded the late Mike Rattray, despite many decades of trying to win the coveted trophy.
Dean told the Sporting Post that while Mike Rattray’s passing is the end of an era for our racing and breeding industry, South Africa had also lost a businessman and leader of great repute and integrity.
“Giants of the ilk of Mike Rattray cross our paths once in a lifetime. He was a great owner to train for.”
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A R250 000 Mistico Yearling Sale graduate, Waterberry Lane was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein and is a son of the international champion Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly) out of the Fort Wood one-time winner, Gain Ground.
Waterberry Lane has won 5 races with 3 places from 10 starts for stakes of R478 625.
First entries for the Hollywoodbets Durban July close at 11h00 on Tuesday 19 April.
