While he will have to wait another year to try and realise his ambition of owning a Vodacom Durban July winner, the 86-year-old Mike Rattray enjoyed a thrilling end to the season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday with Rainbow Bridge winning the Champions Cup and his home-bred Pilou powering home to clinch the R150 000 Listed Darley Arabian.
Gavin Lerena pushes Pilou out to a surprise win (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
The former Durban Turf Club Chairman and his wife Norma’s red and white silks have been prominent on our racecourse for decades and the former owner of Lammerskraal Stud has raced some great horses, like Yard-Arm and Celtic Grove.
And his association with champion stallion Western Winter has been phenomenal – even though Pilou probably doesn’t rank with the best of the son of Gone West’s progeny.
Gavin Lerena has the Sean Tarry-trained 5yo back of midfield in the 1600m polytrack feature and he finished best at 28-1 to hold the game filly Elusive Heart to a half length in a time of 94,52 secs.
Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, the winner is out of the top-class Bardot- a daughter of Badger Land who won five races.
Pilou has won 8 races with 9 places from 29 starts for stakes of R748 900.
