In his first season as trainer to Hassen Adams, the vastly experienced Dan Katz had plenty of reason to celebrate at Kenilworth on Sun Met day with his first Gr2, courtesy of the courageous stayer, Let It Rain.
Richard Fourie (blue and silver) gets Let It Rain to rally as Master’s Eye (Bernard Fayd’herbe) looks a winner (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Highlands-bred son of Dynasty gave a lion-hearted display in the 2800m R400 000 Gr2 Cape Stayers under the guidance of the astute Richard Fourie – who made all the difference.
Formerly with Weiho Marwing, Let It Rain is a strong galloping front-runner who stays all day. But when Savage Wind was sent to lead to make the pace for his stablemate Fortissima, it provided Fourie and Let It Rain the perfect small cover to lope along in second.
At the 400m, Savage Wind had cried enough and Let It Rain was there to pick up the pieces. He was joined by Ollivander on the inside and the threatening Master’s Eye who swooped up the outside.
Calm after the storm (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
With Master’s Eye looking a likely winner, Fourie got Let It Rain to lift and he came back with a big effort.
The son of Dynasty rallied powerfully to beat the luckless Master’s Eye by a head in a time of 180,22 secs, with Ollivander still just a one-time winner a further two lengths back in third.
The highly vaunted Johannesburg visitor Fortissima never got into the race and ran a weak fourth.
Away they go (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
A R1,3 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, the winner is by Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the one-time winning Gardener’s Delight (Giant’s Causeway).
That makes him a half-brother to 4 winners, including Equus Champion, Gr2 Godolphin Mile winner and present day Wilgerbosdrift sire, Soft Falling Rain.
Let It Rain was registering his second stakes success and took his tally to 6 wins with 11 places from 28 starts for stakes of R917 888.
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Gr2 Cape Stayers (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, January 27, R400k, 2800m, turf, good, 3.00.22
1 – LET IT RAIN (SAF), 60.0, b g 5, Dynasty (SAF) – Gardener’s Delight (USA) by Giant’s Causeway (USA). Owner Messrs H Adams, D Chinsammy & Mrs T Chinsammy; Breeder Highlands; trainer D Katz; jockey R Fourie
2 – Master’s Eye (SAF), 60.0, b g 6, Jet Master (SAF) – Jettatura (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
3 – Ollivander (SAF), 58.5, b g 4, Silvano (GER) – Cast A Spell (SAF) by Rambo Dancer (USA)
Margins: 0.05, 2.00, 1.00
