On paper the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Kalahari Blue (Querari) looked a certainty in the last race at Turffontein Inside yesterday.
In his previous race in a Graduation Plate he had finished 1,30 lengths behind Grade 1 winner Thunderstruck and a head behind the classy Prophet.
He had received just 3kg from them and they are rated 114 and 106 respectively.
He was calculated to have run to a 100 merit rating and yet remained on an official 77, meaning he was 11,5kg well in yesterday.
Racing is littered with examples of horses who have apparently run well in small field plate races, but then failed to deliver in a subsequent handicap.
This might be because top horses use those plate races merely as stepping stones.
In fact, in yesterday’s seventh race, Ridgerunner (Canford Cliffs) finished a well beaten 6,50 length sixth.
He had also run in the aforementioned Graduation Plate and finished a 1,90 length fourth, 0,60 lengths behind Kalahari Blue.
He ran off a 98 rating yesterday in a MR 92 Handicap over the same course and distance as that Graduation Plate and had no excuses.
The Grant Maroun-trained Anfields Rockets (Coup De Grace) powered home in that MR 92 Handicap under Kaidan Brewer to make it three wins on the trot.
Maroun is reportedly calling him the best he has ever trained.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ANFIELD ROCKET’S IMPRESSIVE WIN
However, Ridgerunner’s effort sent out a few alarm bells for Kalahari Blue supporters, and the latter duly drifted out to even money.
Keagan de Melo was always going to be a big plus factor and he once again produced the goods.
Kalahari Blue jumped very well from pole position, but De Melo was happy to keep him relaxed and he ended up in the box seat.
There was only panic in the stands when he found himself stuck behind two horses for the majority of the straight. De Melo remainded as cool as a cucumber.
When he eventually got him out for a clear run, Kalahari Blue responded well and stretched past the well-backed second favourite Power Ranger to win by 1,40 lengths carrying just 52.5kg.
It will be interesting to see what the handicappers do, but in these cases they usually find a way to justify a big merit rating.
