Kommetdieding set for rare achievement

Jack Milner

Everybody loves a champion, and it is that sentiment of endearment which will accompany the arrival of Kommetdieding to Turffontein racecourse on Saturday.

His presence alone in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m makes a trip to Turffontein worthwhile and there is every inch of confidence exuding from the connections that it will be a winning introduction to Joburg racing fans.

Should he win this race he will have achieved a rare feat – a Grade 1 victory in three provinces.

The son of Elusive Fort has been one of those stories that makes horseracing great. He is trained by the relatively unheralded father and daughter team of Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix and owned by charismatic Ashwin Reynolds. Every time Kommetdieding wins there are swinging parties on the Cape Flats that go on into the early hours of the next morning.

Reynolds is already in Joburg and he is certain to add a lot of colour and charisma to the on-course atmosphere.

As for the horse, well, he just takes all the attention in his stride. “He’s very chilled,” said Rix this week.

The four-year-old colt has been in Joburg since the beginning of March, based at Randjesfontein with Roy Magner.

He had a run at Turffontein on Wednesday last week and then this week had his final work-out.

“I’m very, very happy with him,” declared Rix. “He put up some good work this (Thursday) morning.

“Now it’s up to Gavin.”

The Gavin in question is jockey Gavin Lerena, who has ridden this colt to victory in both last year’s Durban July and this year’s Cape Town Met.

While there seems to be a belief in some quarters 1600m will be too sharp for him, that is one issue that does not concern Rix.

“He ran well in the KZN Guineas last year when he was not ridden to instruction, and second in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate when he had a skin issue on his back and should not have even raced.

“I think any 1600m will suit him at any course but at this one it will suit him down to a tee.

“There also looks to be a bit of pace in the race and that will suit him even better.”

The obvious danger looks to be Al Muthana but trainer Mike de Kock is not sure if his charge is good enough to beat Kommetdieding.

“Al Muthana will have to be at his best and I also think he needs a soft track. He’s always been a nice horse, but I’m not sure about him being Grade 1 material,” he said on Wednesday.

After that the only real dangers look to be Onamission Mile winner Bingwa and MK’s Pride, who is not sure to see out 1600m in this company.

We have a Pick 6 carryover of R1-million going into the meeting with the pool expected to reach R5 million and Kommetdieding looks to be a banker in all bets.