FOUR-year-old colt Mehree (7-1,photo), bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, won the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday by a nose after a heads-up, heads-down duel with Snowdon.

Anthony Delpech rode a driving finish to keep Piere Strydom’s mount at bay, giving Merhee his first graded success.

This was a super victory for the colt by Elusive Quality and assistant trainer Mathew de Kock explained: “Merhee suffered a serious bout of colic just a few months ago and there was a time we  thought we were going to lose him. But the way he fought back in the Senor Santa showed that he had fully recovered, he hasn’t lost his heart.”

Mathew said that Merhee just needed his last run on sand at the Vaal. “He suffered kickback in the  race and couldn’t get anywhere near the winner, but the race brought him along and the Senor Santa came at the right time. In my view Snowdon was the only horse to beat and we’re very pleased that Merhee rose to the occasion.”

Dame du Bois, cruised in.

At Greyville on Friday night, Bernard Kantor’s filly Dame du Bois enjoyed the 1600m in a Fillies and Mares Handicap and skated clear by over four lengths for Delpech, winning a MR71 contest.

This one is also owner-bred by Jet Master from Kantor’s filly Jet Danza.