A dual Gr3 winner prior to Saturday, Gimmethegreenlight gelding Second Base found a powerful finish to score a career peak success when winning the R400 000 Gr2 Colorado King Stakes at Turffontein.
All the dice are rolling for Keagan de Melo at the moment, and the KZN-based jockey is riding the crest of a wave.
In a remarkable seven days, he rode a double at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Sunday, a double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday, a double at Durbanville on Wednesday, a single winner at Turffontein on Thursday, and now a feature double at Turffontein today.
He has 5 rides at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
The angle is deceptive but Second Base (Keagan de Melo, striped cap) has eventual third-placer Sparkling Water (Smanga Khumalo) under control (Pic -JC Photos)
De Melo rode the perfect race on Second Base on Saturday. He had the gelding settled near the rear as Imperial Ruby, and then the favourite Shangani led the charge for home.
Hesitating momentarily as Denis Schwarz and Johnny Hero made things a bit tight down the inside, Second Base hit the front full of running just as Sparkling Water loomed menacingly down the centre.
The De Kock filly was thought to be only 80% ready for this, and De Melo, switching crop hands vigorously, kept Second Base (28-10) at it and balanced as Zillzaal (6-1) came out low-flying.
At the line, the son of Gimmethegreenlight had enough in reserve and held off the Summer Cup winner to score by a quarter length in a time of 124,05 secs.
Second Base was the third winner of the day to carry the Wernars silks.
Sparkling Water (5-1) stayed on nicely for third, with Johnny Hero (20-1) a well beaten 3,50 lengths away in fourth.
Shangani ran fifth a further three quarter lengths back after trying to take them on early in the straight.
A winner of 7 races with 7 places from 19 starts for stakes of R1 249 150, the Gold Star Stud-bred Second Base is out of the one-time winning Fort Wood mare Passionate Kiss.
He is priced up at 33-1 in the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post market.
