A see-saw! That’s the only way to describe the jockey and apprentice logs as the Hollywoodbets Back On Track Challenge enters the home run into a thrilling climax on Vodacom Durban July day.
Keagan de Melo – tops the log (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
After the sizzling speed feature meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday, Keagan de Melo and Jason Gates are the jockey and apprentice leaders, relegating Anton Marcus and Jabu Jacobs to second positions, respectively.
Both recently led!
| Pos | Jockeys | Points | Runs | Wins | Places (3) |
| 1 | Keagan De Melo | 750 | 88 | 8 | 16 |
| 2 | Anton Marcus | 719 | 69 | 17 | 16 |
| 2 | Warren Kennedy | 719 | 89 | 11 | 20 |
| 4 | Craig Zackey | 675 | 75 | 8 | 15 |
| 5 | Sean Veale | 639 | 73 | 8 | 16 |
Paarl-based trainer Glen Kotzen recently told the Sporting Post that the last few weeks of the challenge would be pressure-cooker stuff, but the veteran conditioner has been in deadly form and maintains a strong lead on the trainer log.
Kotzen has Eyes Wide Open, who along with Pack Leader, is one of a duo representing the stable in the Vodacom Durban July last 26, running in the Derby at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
| Pos | Trainer | Points | Runs | Wins | Places (3) |
| 1 | G S Kotzen | 654 | 63 | 10 | 16 |
| 2 | D R Drier | 430 | 44 | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | S J Snaith | 425 | 35 | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | M D Miller | 388 | 53 | 2 | 13 |
| 5 | S G Tarry | 385 | 32 | 8 | 3 |
His loyal Team Kotzen Groom Yamkela Zafunele is another man who is well in command in his division.
Yamkela leads Classy Moshe from the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard by 31 points.
| Pos | Groom | Trainer | Points | Wins | Places (3) |
| 1 | Yamkela Zafunele | G S Kotzen | 115 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | Classy Moshe | J J van Vuuren | 84 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Siseko Mpukane | G van Zyl (Jnr) | 71 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Samwell Mbungendlu | D Kannemeyer | 70 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Thabang Tlali | D R Drier | 68 | 0 | 2 |
With prize money to the value of R530 000 up for grabs, the keenly contested challenge maintains individual logs for Trainers, Jockeys, Racehorses, Grooms and Apprentices at the KZN racecourses.
Saturday’s 2yo Gr1 winners Vernichey and Tempting Fate are joint leaders on the equine log.
Vernichey wins the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship on Saturday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The challenge reaches a climax on 25 July day, with the running of the bumper Durban July programme.
The next meeting is at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday 8 July.
See all the log standings – click on the image below
