Andrew Harrison

Keagan De Melo will have learned plenty about pace in Hong Kong, one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions on the planet, and he put that knowledge to good effect as he got Vapour Trail home in the Progress Plate that headed the poly card at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Blinkered for the first time, De Melo had Vaughan Marshal’s charge quickly out of the gate and into the lead but setting a sedate gallop as the gelding settled comfortably into the bridle.

Powerandtheglory was always in contention but favourite Hah Lah Lah was giving Craig Zackey a torrid time. Dropped in off the pace as is the want with Dean Kannemeyer-trained runners, Hah Lah Lah was having none of it, fighting for his head and eventually forcing Zackey to track wide to prevent him running into the heels of the opposition.

De Melo quickened up the pace off the false rail and Vapour Trail was not for the catching as he kept rolling. Powerandtheglory tried gamely to stay in touch but was unable to make up the leeway and as a half-brother to WSB Cape Town Met winner Double Superlative a trip further than yesterday’s 1400m must be on the cards.

Hah La La blew his chances in the early fight with Zackey and his powder was damp come the chase for home.

Louis Goosen’s filly Meeksha was a popular choice in the card opener but the result boiled down to a successful objection. Meeksha and Tiger Cody were involved in a desperate finish but did come together a couple of times. There was a nod of the heads at the line with Tiger Cody on the right side of the photo finish but on the wrong side of the objection and the result was reversed.

Master Of My Fate is the hottest stallion in the country of late and the white-faced Splash Of Love added another to his growing tally of winners as Paul Lafferty’s filly made short work of her opposition in the second.

Greek Heiress made most of the running but she quickly ran out of gas in the straight leaving her challenger in the market, Gimme The Power, racing into the lead. However, her challenge was also short lived as Splash Of Love shot clear crossing the subway and went on to win unchallenged with Indignation running on late to relegate a tiring Gimme The Power into third.

It was a day of close finishes with little more than a piece of paper separating Shiny Bob and Circle Of Grace in the D Stakes. Circle Of Grace came off a win at the Vaal and got a five-point increase in the handicap while Shiny Bob’s jockey was replaced by a 4kg claimer. Circle Of Grace made the running and tried gamely to hold on to his advantage but the weights told a tail.