Winning Form-sponsored rider Keagan de Melo surged to the top of the national jockey log and stole the show at a vibrant Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday when he rode 5 winners at the opening meeting of the Hollywoodbets Spring Country Series.
There was expectation aplenty ahead of Wednesday’s nine race meeting that heralded the start of the County Course spring season and also the introduction of the RaceCape incentive, an innovative programme designed to boost the local equine population and field sizes.
In perfect Cape spring weather, attendance was considerably in excess of any recent meetings at the Northern Suburbs racecourse, with the environment taking on a fresh and welcoming purple ambiance.
The fresh new look (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
A Cape Racing official confirmed that lunch bookings outstripped any previous attendance, and the feedback was positive all round, with the Hollywoodbets team from the Cape and KZN stamping their trademark hospitality, to convert the atmosphere. The Sporting Post took a number of advance calls and questions about attendance at the meeting – something that nobody has ever asked previously.
“Fabulous,” was the short response from leading breeder Pippa Mickleburgh, who travelled from Stellenbosch to enjoy the launch day.
“Best day ever at Hollywoodbets Durbanville,” chirped a happy Justin Snaith, who saddled three winners, and warned punters that he has started later this year and that his maiden runners could be followed with confidence in the months ahead.
The happy winners (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
Veteran trainer Greg Ennion, who upset the applecart to some degree for exotic punters with the opening leg Pick 6 winner Wyag, saluted Kenilworth Racing Chairman elect Greg Bortz and Hollywoodbets.
“This is what we have been crying out for. Thanks to everybody involved,” he added, before expressing his disappointment with the starter:”My horse was drawn 10. He was loaded first. What happened to the rules? Or do they only apply to some people?”
But the day belonged to Keagan de Melo, who stated in an interview with the Sporting Post at the end of last term that he was targetting the national title. He rode the first four winners, before his stranglehold was broken by Lois Mxothwa, who booted Metar home to an exciting last-to-first post maiden victory in the fifth. Metar was a happy winner for birthday boy Brett Crawford and the Hollywood Syndicate, who will receive the KZN champion honours at the holiday province awards function this evening.
De Melo bounced right back in the sixth, to win on the well -backed Jasmine for Glen Kotzen.
Lois Mxothwa steers Metar to a sensational victory (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
The final race on the card provided a fitting finale, when the Normandy owned and bred Beerenberg, up for sale on the BSA Online Sale, dead heated with Andre Nel charge Superior Leader. The result showed that everybody makes an unnecessary fuss of wide draws at Hollywoodbets Durbanville!
The next Cape racemeeting is on Tuesday 13 September. There were again eliminations at declarations today, and the positive trend continues in terms of field sizes, with 93 runners contesting the 8 races.
Once the visitors start filtering through, things are bound to lift further.
