Reigning SA Champion jockey Keagan de Melo will return from Hong Kong to partner eight runners for the Justin Snaith yard on the HKJC Gold Cup day on Sunday 28 July.
Keagan De Melo – strategic engagement (Pic – HKJC)
With close on R7,2 million stakes up for grabs in the season decider, defending national champion trainer Justin Snaith is just under R1,3 million ahead of his nearest rival Sean Tarry and is pulling out all stops, with de Melo back to partner WSB Cape Town Met winner Double Superlative in the HKJC Champions Cup and One Way Traffic in the World Pool Gold Cup, amongst a decent book of rides on the day.
De Melo rode 21 winners from 419 rides for gross stakes of HK$39 398 025 in his first Hong Kong season.
In comparison, his SA counterpart Lyle Hewitson rode 40 winners (stakes of HK$76 313 830), while Luke Ferraris bagged 28 firsts (stakes of HK$37 026 775).
The final fields for the season climax will be published on Thursday 18 July.
