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.

RACE 1

(9) AMANATTO is holding consistent form and looks hard to beat here with Richard Fourie aboard. (1) ORIGINATOR is making progress with every run and should be in the firing line. (3) GOOD SHINE ran well enough in the last start and should be included in larger perms. (5) BLAME IT ON ME represents Cape form which stands up strong here so needs to be taken seriously. (Devonne Govender 9-1-3-5).

RACE 2

(9) WARRIOR’S EDGE ran well on debut and will be a big runner in this field respectfully. (6) AETHELWULF is holding form and will be a big challenger here. (8) SMIDDYBURN is making progress and has scope to be right in the thick of things. (5) BUGLE is capable of much better and that last run is best ignored. (Devonne Govender 9-6-8-5).

RACE 3

(2) ROYAL CITY GIRL ran a cracker in the last start and will have a big chance here. (3) BACK FOR MORE was narrowly beaten in the last start and will be a serious contender. (1) THREE CHEERS hasn’t been far and is capable on her day so include in all bets. (6) CANFORD QUEEN wasn’t far in the last start and should be involved for the placings with the claiming apprentice up. (Devonne Govender 2-3-1-6)

RACE 4

(3) OLIVE OYL is capable of much better and will be the narrow first choice, she goes well here and will make her presence felt. (7) ROCK OF FUTURA hasn’t been far in recent runs and is capable of challenging here so respect. (4) OUTBACK EXPRESS won his maiden extremely well, he is capable of a big finish and should be included. (1) GARDEN SUN is a very honest type, with the claimer taking weight off, he could run a big race. (Devonne Govender 3-7-4-1).

RACE 5

(2) FAIRY KNIGHT won extremely well in his last start and will be tough to beat here, although many have solid form he packs plenty of class and can pull it off. (1) CRUISE CONTROL ran a cracker in the last start and expected to be in the mix. (4) CLIFF TOP won a good race over 1000m in his last start and should be in the shake-up. (7) ROMAN AGENT is holding solid form and rates a chance here, include in larger perms as he takes on strong contenders in the form of the top 3 selections. (Devonne Govender 2-1-4-7).

RACE 6

(2) BAIE MOOI ran a cracker in her last start and looks tough to beat if she repeats that run. (4) STATE SECRET is holding solid form and looks the main danger to the top selection. (1) MONTELENA is capable on her day and can make the frame here. (3) AVERNIAN GODDESS ran well in her last start and gets a top rider up, she can certainly pop up. (Devonne Govender 2-4-1-3).

RACE 7

(2) HOERIKWAGGO won impressively in her last start and looks to have a huge chance of following up in this line up. (9) BRETTY is capable of much better, she hasn’t been far in recent runs and could bounce back and run a cracker, include in all bets. (5) JAMBO SANA is always in the mix, she goes well here and is a must include in everything. (6) MARSHMALLOW is never far back and with the claimer up she could run a big race. (Devonne Govender 2-9-5-6).

RACE 8

10) TEEREX is knocking on the door for another career win, he has been consistent and will go close. (3) THUNDER MASTER gets a much kinder draw this time and will be a huge challenger. (4) CADENZA won his maiden impressively and looks progressive hence he should be respected. (2) PORFIRIO won easily in his last start and a repeat of that will see him making his presence felt in a big way. (Devonne Govender 10-3-4-2).

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Fakenham (UK) – 21 December 2025.

Race Coast is thrilled to announce a game changing new era for South African horse racing punters with the official launch of horse racing with Colossus Pools on Monday, 1 December 2025!

Following the successful introduction of Colossus world class sports pools, we are now bringing this innovative technology to the multi-leg racing bets. To kick off the launch, the horse racing pools will feature predetermined, high value UK race meetings, giving local punters access to massive international jackpots.

This marks a major step forward for the sport, combining the thrill of racing with modern, flexible features.

Introducing Unprecedented Control

For the first time in South African racing, you will be able to take advantage of key features that put you in control of your bet:

• Cash Out: Don’t wait until the last race! You will now receive leg-by-leg offers to Cash Out all or part of your ticket as the pool progresses. Secure a profit early or reduce your risk, giving you unprecedented control over your potential winnings.
• Syndicate Betting: Join forces with other punters to crowdfund a single, high stakes ticket. Share the cost, increase your chances of hitting the jackpot, and share the rewards with the betting community. You can become a Syndicate Captain or contribute to a ticket led by an expert.

Race Coast is committed to innovating and ensuring our horse racing proposition is the most exciting and engaging in the country.

Get Ready to Play!

Look out for the Colossus button on the www.tote.co.za website and from December 1st, toggle between Football and Horse Racing, and experience the new generation of betting.

Massive UK Jackpots, More Control, and Shared Success—get ready to elevate your racing experience!

We are thrilled to announce a ground-breaking new chapter in your betting experience! We’ve partnered with Colossus Bets, a leading UK-based company, to bring you an exciting new product never before seen in the South African tote betting market.

What is Colossus Bets?

Imagine betting into massive, guaranteed prize pools, often reaching life-changing sums, with the added power of controlling your bet as the action unfolds. That’s the essence of Colossus Bets! It’s a revolutionary way to play, combining the thrill of traditional tote betting with unparalleled flexibility.

Understanding the Bet Types & Functionality:

Colossus Bets specialises in pool betting, where you bet against other players. The total money wagered is placed into a “pool”, and the prize money is shared among all winning tickets. The more people who play, the larger the potential jackpot! 

Some of the Bet Types on offer

• Pick 1×2: This is a straightforward pool where you predict the result of each match – Home Win (1), Draw (X), or Away Win (2).

 

• Correct Score: This is a more challenging but potentially more lucrative pool, where you must predict the exact final result of each match

 

• Both Teams to Score: This is for fans of goals and fast paced action. Your task is to simply predict whether or not both teams will score at least one goal in a selected series of matches

 

Innovative Functionality

• Cash Out: This feature allows you to lock in a profit before all matches (legs) in your ticket are completed. After each leg, Colossus bets will make you an offer to buy your ticket based on its current value. You can choose to accept the guaranteed payout or stay in the game for a chance at the full jackpot.

 

• Syndicate Betting: Colossus Bets offers a unique way to play through Syndicate Tickets, allowing Players to team up and increase their chances of winning. Creating a Syndicate – If you have a betting strategy or consider yourself a “Pro”, you can create a Syndicate Ticket and invite other Players to contribute towards the payment of the ticket. Joining a Syndicate – Alternatively, you can join a Syndicate Ticket that another Player has already created. When you contribute to a Syndicate Ticket, you will own a share of that ticket. This share is directly proportional to the amount of money you contributed. If the Syndicate Ticket wins, you will receive a proportionate share of any returns (such as dividends or cash-out proceeds) based on your contribution. In essence, Syndicate Tickets allows Players to pool their resources, share the risk, and share the rewards!

 

• Guaranteed Huge Sports Pools: Colossus Bets offers guaranteed prize pools often reaching life-changing proportions. This means greater potential payouts for a winning ticket!

 

• Consolation Prizes: For many pools, if you narrowly miss the jackpot by getting a number of the selections correct, you can still win a share of a consolation prize. This means that you can still get a payout even if your ticket isn’t a perfect winner.

How to find the Colossus Product

To access the Colossus soccer products, simply follow these steps:

• Log in to your TOTE account on www.tote.co.za
• Once logged in, look for the “Colossus” button on the main navigation bar.
• Click the button to be taken to a new page, displaying all the available Colossus products
• Start playing!

 

Why is this a game changer for South Africa?

Colossus Bets is renowned for pioneering the Cash Out feature in multi-leg pool betting, Syndicate Betting, and for offering some of the largest sports jackpots globally. This partnership brings that innovation and scale directly to you, providing a fresh and exciting way to engage with your favourite sports.

We are confident that Colossus Bets will transform your betting experience, offering bigger thrills and more control than ever before.

Ready to get in on the action? The Colossus button on www.tote.co.za is your portal to this revolutionary product. Don’t miss out!

Be sure to look out for the Colossus horse racing products – Coming Soon!