Andrew Harrison

Keagan de Melo may not have been flavour of the season in Hong Kong but I highly doubt that it was due to a lack of talent but more likely to do with a lack of opportunity. He will however, have honed his riding skills in the competitive Hong Kong environment and it was on display at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday night where he scored a hattrick in quick succession.

He showed a mature judgement of pace on Plum Pudding for Andre Nel and assistant Byron Forster in the Middle Stakes that headed the card and first leg of the Pick 6. He rode a patient race on the mare, coming from a long way back to seal victory.

Stable companion Terminator gave Tristan Godden a tough time, fighting for his head for much of the race before finally allowed his head and going well clear. With more in front than behind, De Melo allowed Plum Pudding to gradually build up a head of steam off the false rail and one in full stride, the mare quickened past the opposition to win rather comfortably.

He rode a smart race for his old boss Dean Kannemeyer, getting Continentalexpress home in the C Stakes over 2400m. The gelding was back over his preferred trip but De Melo, judging that the pedestrian pace was not to his advantage, took on pacemaker High Queue putting Sean Veale under pressure coming up the hill with the balance chasing. From there on, Continentalexpress gradually drew away from High Queue to win convincingly. The gelding appears to have come into his own this season and could well be a contender in the staying features towards season end.

De Melo’s run started in the second with Copacabana for Dennies Bosch in the opening leg of the PA.

Stalking pacemaker My Gucci Girl, he made an early move at the top of the straight and the mare kicked on gamely to stave off challenges from Golden Angel and Futano with many of the more fancied not in the hunt and a large number of PA tickets heading for the waste bin.

De Melo was not so fortunate in the fourth where S’Manga Khumalo took Numzaan to the front and was not for the catching as Frikkie Greyling’s charge kept up a solid gallop. Industrialstrength was making up ground over the final furlong but not quickly enough to cut back the deficit to mount a serious challenge.

Cole Dicken is a solid journeyman rider and makes the most of his opportunities when they come.

He replaced the injured Serino Moodley on Circumbendibus in the B Stakes and was given something of an armchair ride as Glen Kotzen’s charge ran away from his opposition to score rather comfortably. Second-placed I’m A Fireball, having his first outing after a six-month break, was given a gentle reintroduction but was running on stoutly for second and should come on plenty with that run under his girth.

Dicken picked up the ride on Iron Will in the last and he made all on Yadav Singh’s veteran galloper, chased home by favourite Music Is Life who tried gamely but never able to get onto terms with the winner.