De Melo looks in top gear

Wild Coast, winner of last year’s Grade 2 KZN Guineas, makes a return to his favourite track on Sunday.

Based on his gene pool, this Justin Snaith-trained runner has the credentials to become a superstar. He is by Trippi out of multiple Grade 1-winning mare Beach Beauty, so it came as no surprise when he captured the Guineas over 1600m on the Greyville turf last June, even though he went off at 22-1.

The world looked to be his oyster for this colt, but he has yet to repeat his early performances.

He could have found 2000m too far in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 where he went down 4.95 lengths to Got The Greenlight.

He may have not impressed when going back to the Cape but has been given time to mature and perhaps that is what he needed.

Wild Coast contests Race 3, a Conditional Progress Plate over 1600m, and he is the bestweighted runner.

He might be in need of the run so while he could very well win, it might be safer to side with Seventh Gear.

This son of Captain Al gelding was well beaten by Wild Coast in the Guineas but has improved by some margin since. While he has not raced since January, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge did run a 1.70-length fourth behind Nexus in the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth in December.

His last race was over 2500m and should be ignored as he did not appear to see out the trip. He is beautifully bred, by Captain Al out of Triple Tiara winner Cherry On The Top, and carries 2kg less than Wild Coast.

Keagan de Melo knows him well and he takes the ride again on Sunday.