On a red letter day for the high-riding Gavin Smith Racing Team, promising 3yo Khaya’s Hope showed his class and courage with a lionhearted victory in the R250 000 Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stakes at Fairview on Friday.
Keagan de Melo has Khaya’s Hope in front after an exciting chase up the straight (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Under Khaya Stables’ retained national log-leading rider Keagan de Melo, Khaya’s Hope made it 5 winners on the glorious afternoon for the Hollywoodbets-sponsored Smith team as he took up the running early off a sedentary gallop, and stayed on powerfully at 5-2 to beat Kotzen challenger Famous And Rich (33-1) by 0,75 lengths in a time of 98,03 secs.
Cape raiders also filled the next two places with Allez Morris (9-2)and Iconic Destination (4-1) in fourth.
Described as the best 3yo in Gqeberha by Keagan de Melo, Khaya’s Hope is a son of Moutonshoek Galileo stallion The United States out of the UK-placed Danehill Dancer mare, Miss Khaya.
A winner of 3 races with 6 places from 9 starts, Khaya’s Hope has banked stakes of R359 375.
