Jack Milner
Kommetdieding will be looking to become only the sixth horse to win back-to-back Hollywoodbets Durban Julys when he lines up at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix-trained runner pulled off a thrilling win from the widest draw last year under Gavin Lerena and there is a lot of confidence emanating from the same team that they can repeat that this year.
There are, of course, a few concerns. Firstly, the son of Elusive Fort will be carrying joint top weight of 60kg and secondly many pundits are pointing to his disappointing Joburg campaign where he finished third and fifth respectively in two Grade 1 races – the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and the Premier’s Champions Challenge.
“I can’t really explain it,” said Rix on Wednesday. “There was nothing physically wrong with him, maybe it was the altitude, but it just wasn’t for him.
“But he turned the corner once we arrived in KwaZulu-Natal. Gavin says he feels much better.”
He has not raced since the Champions Challenge, but Rix says they have given him two hard gallops to get him ready. “We also galloped him with 60kg which is the weight he will carry in the Durban July and he put up an excellent run.”
The other five runners to double up in the Durban July are Campanajo (1897, 1898), Corriecrian (1907, 1908), Milesia Pride (1949, 1950), El Picha (1999, 2000) and Do It Again (2018, 2019).