National jockey log-leader Keagan de Melo won’t ride again in 2022 with a suspension commencing on Christmas day, but beyond potentially costing him a winning cheque in the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge, he looks to maintain his powerful position at the top of the table as we welcome in 2023.
The Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge will see a total of R1 000 000 awarded to owners, jockeys, trainers and apprentices in the KwaZulu-Natal based competition, with just three meetings left to the climax on 30 December.
The Winning Form-sponsored Keagan de Melo leads the jockey leaderboard on 753.5 points, with Serino Moodley in second place with 661 points ahead of Tristan Godden, who is on 541.5 points.
But he will be sitting out the rest of 2022 after the National Horseracing Authority confirmed this week that at an Inquiry held in Cape Town on 17 December, which was adjourned and resumed on 20 December, De Melo was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7.
Keagan de Melo – off for a week (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
He was the rider of Let It Burn and failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to Transact at the 150m in Race 8, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on 19 November 2022.
Ironically De Melo booted Let It Burn home in a terrific display of power riding at his last Cape ride of 2022 on Thursday.
He pleaded guilty to and was found guilty of the charge relating to his 19 November ride. The Inquiry Board, after considering the video evidence, his riding record and mitigating factors, imposed a penalty of a suspension from riding in races for a period of seven (7) days.
Jockey de Melo was given the Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed, but waived his Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed and was granted permission to take his suspension from 25/12/2022 to 31/12/2022, both dates inclusive.
In a country that does not race on Christmas Day, it is puzzling how a suspension could be meted out where it has no effective value. But that’s something only the regulator will understand.
For De Melo, the suspension looks likely to costs him the first cheque in the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge, with three meetings to go – commencing with Monday’s Boxing Day meet at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Serino Moodley – needs to focus in the final 3 meetings of 2022 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Local competitor Serino Moodley must fancy his chances with about 25 races to be run still – and more possibly to be added after recent lost meetings. Moodley will need in the region of 15 rides to threaten De Melo’s lead.
The competition has proven a real winner for the local stakeholders, with needle and banter the order of the day.
Garth Puller leads the way on the trainer leaderboard with 701.5 points, ahead of Kom Naidoo who is on 601 points.
Rachel Venniker remains top of the apprentice leaderboard. She tops the log with 590 points with Siphesphile Hlengwa back in second on 414 points.
The three remaining KZN racemeetings are all at Hollywoodbets Greyville and will be run on 26, 28 and 30 December.
Monday’s public holiday meeting starts at 12h30.
