De Melo, Snaith gallop into the lead

The new R1-million prize for the champion jockey is one big incentive, but De Melo will also be driven by a desire for redemption after a dismal spell in Hong Kong, when he found himself on the wrong side of that place’s notorious racing fickleness and superstition.

Five weeks into the year-long 2026/27 season, De Melo tops the jockeys’ win log with 28 successes – nine clear of nearest rival Kabelo Matsuyane and 18 ahead of reigning champion Craig Zackey.

Keagan de Melo is a short-priced favourite to recapture the South African national champion jockey title he won back in 2022/23.