Keagan de Melo produced a fine ride to win yesterday’s Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m on the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained raider Homely Girl (Querari), who was bought in training by Vermaak Equine on behalf of Laurence Wernars after finishing third in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.
De Melo had her relaxed one out with cover in a handy position in the first part of the race and did not panic when he lost that cover at about the 900m mark but instead let her slide forward at a comfortable tempo.
She turned for home a length off the leader Kwinta’s Light and ran on strongly.
She was tending to hang in the latter stages in her first appearance at Hollywoodbets Greyville but De Melo kept her straight and she won by 0,80 lengths from a running on Ecstatic Green.
Wernars said he had always done well with Narrow Creek Stud-bred progeny and praised stud owner John Everett for the quality of horse he produces.
The 5/1 favourite Supreme Quest finished third.
July entry Marina finished last but trainer Candice Bass-Robinson was not perturbed saying it has been difficult to find a suitable preparation race for her and 1400m was way too short.
Picture: Candiese Lenferna
