Keagan de Melo grabs Group 3 Premier Cup with Copartner Prance

Keagan de Melo rejoiced in the biggest win of his Hong Kong riding career today (Sunday, 22 June) with a 25/1 victory aboard Copartner Prance (122lb) for trainer Francis Lui in the HK$4.2 million G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin.

Pressing forward from gate five in the nine-runner contest, Copartner Prance defiantly maintained his position at the head of the field throughout the race as Victor The Winner (132lb) sat second. Happy Together (128lb) made a late lunge, missing by only a head, as Lui’s charge savoured narrow success in 1m 21.15s (13.51, 22.33, 22.94, 22.37).

Race favourite Packing Hermod (126lb) battled into third, while Patch Of Theta (128lb) was fourth, rounding out Lui’s trio in the race. De Melo, 31, is a Group 1-winning rider in South Africa and has 12 wins this season, including today’s first at Group 3 level in Hong Kong.

“Francis was pretty simple with the tactics. He said if Victor The Winner doesn’t want to go forward, take up the running and ride him for his fractions and I thought the horse pulled it off nicely.

“It’s a big relief. Obviously, numbers don’t lie. My rides have gone down and my winners have gone down but I’m a positive person and I just keep my head up and keep fighting,” De Melo said. “Thanks to all the trainers that do support me – I really do appreciate it.”

Raced by the Copartner Spirit Syndicate, Copartner Prance is now an eight-time winner in Hong Kong with earnings of HK$14.87 million. The Epaulette gelding’s previous career peak was six wins in succession last season.

“It’s a real honour to be in this position and thanks to Francis and his team. The horse’s turned out phenomenally and I think he got the right fractions,” De Melo said.

Lui, 66, was crowned champion trainer last season and is renowned for handling retired superstar Golden Sixty. Starting out as an apprentice jockey in Hong Kong in the early 1970s, Lui was licenced as a trainer in 1996/97.

“I think the jockey controlled the pace very well. We always thought 1400 (metres) would suit him but we tried once before and he was too keen – at the end of the season, he’s more relaxed. I’m very happy to get more and more winners,” Lui said.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday (25 June).