De Melo, Snaith gallop into the lead
Former champion jockey in search of redemption.
Keagan de Melo has surged to the top of the South African jockeys' win tally for the 2026/27 season, claiming 28 victories thus far – a significant margin ahead of his closest competitor, Kabelo Matsunyane, with 19 wins. The reigning champion jockey, Justin Snaith, rounds out the top three with 1.52 odds, edging out Alan Greeff at 1.82.
This early-season lead comes despite the high risk of injury and suspension associated with the demanding sport. De Melo's ambition to reclaim the national champion jockey title won in 2022/23 is fueled by a new R1-million prize and a determination to prove himself after a challenging stint in Hong Kong. His return to form has been swift, with De Melo already establishing himself as a dominant force in the sport.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
