Current National log leading rider Keagan de Melo is obviously having his best season as he gets support from all the right places. But it doesn’t mean that he just has a good agent, he has talent in spades. He has been riding brilliantly over all distances and at all racetracks and sometimes winning races he shouldn’t.
And while William Rufus, who contests Race 5 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday, appears to be his best ride, De Melo could turn some ‘half chances’ into full ones.
He rides Elusive Justice in Race 1, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, and there could be a dramatic bit of improvement to come from the son of Elusive Fort, especially as he takes on a weak field.
The Johan Janse Van Vuuren trained gelding has not shown the pace or finish needed to win on the Highveld, but De Melo, who is currently the leading rider on the Greyville Polytrack, should have an idea as to whether he will take to the surface as he has ridden him in all three starts.
The pair jump from gate No 1 and De Melo will be able to place him perfectly and send him on his way at the right time. Expect a decent price about his chances as Victor Rail has fair form on the poly and should jump the likely favourite.
But it is interesting to note that De Melo has ridden the latter and will have an idea what to expect.
De Melo could also get Jade’s Caberneigh to perform a winning note in Race 2, a fillies and mares Maiden Plate over 1000m.
Trained by Peter Muscutt, this Gimmethegreenlight filly was thought good enough to travel to the Western Cape and was fancied in both starts with Richard Fourie having been booked to ride.
She did show good pace but weakened when it came to crunch time and would have left her trainer and connections scratching their heads.
Back in KwaZulu-Natal she should feel much more at home and could give of her best. De Melo will have to decide her fate at the jump however, as she has drawn widest and may need to be taken straight to the front. Here again she meets a field low on quality and could get the right guidance from De Melo.
Other horses with solid each-way claims include Mvulazana (Race 3) and Duchess Of Gold (Race 8).
Clive Robinson
