Re:Will Kommetdieding run in the July?

KOMMETDIEDING TRAVELS TO THE HIGHVELD ON MONDAY

David Thiselton

Kommetdieding will travel up to Johannesburg on Monday and will be staying at the Randjesfontein yard of Roy Magner.

Trainer Michelle Rix said Magner's yard was the best option because Kommet's big-race rider Gavin Lerena was often there riding work and he and his wife Vicky would be happy to take care of the horse on the days Michelle was not there.

She plans to be there five days a week during his two month campaign.

He is being targeted at the Grade 1 weight for age (wfa) HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on April 2 and the Grade 1 wfa Premier's Champions Challenge over 2000m on April 30.

Rix said 4Racing had phoned today (Tuesday) and were "ready to roll out the red carpet" for the Hollywoodbets Durban July and WSB Met winner.

She said Kommetdieding had been due for a holiday on the farm after his Met victory but had been so full of well-being it was clear he was ready for more racing. Suitable races in the KZN SA Champions Season were too far away, so the best option was Johannesburg..

Rix traveled up to Johannesburg last Friday to look at both Turffontein and Randjesfontein to ascertain which would be the more suitable centre for Kommetdieding and as mentioned earlier she has opted for Randjefontein.

Michelle is not overly concerned about the altitude factor. No official study has been done on the effects of altitude on thoroughbred performance so all evidence is anecdotal and there are a number of differing theories. However, she said she had been told by Veterinarians to expect an increase in red blood cell count when training on the Highveld and that as an entire Kommetdieding would have a higher than usual red blood cell count anyway so should not be put under too much stress.

The remainder of Kommetdieding's season, including a potential defense of his Hollywoodbets Durban July crown, will only be planned after the two Johannesburg races.

Michelle said a stud career is not beckoning yet and elaborated, "He is still so immature and jockeys who have been riding him have said he has improved a couple of lengths since The Met."

The yard have been inundated since winning Cape Town's biggest race but finally found time to celebrate the big win last week on Tuesday evening and enjoyed a braai at their Milnerton-based yard with owner Ashwin Reynolds and other close friends and family.

Kommetdieding, despite still being an entire with a stallion future ahead of him, was relaxed and as quiet as a lamb in the stable right next to the activity.

He only had a chain across his stable entrance and, when his head was not buried in the feed manger, he enjoyed socialising with the guests.

He was always willing to show off his party trick, a folded in half tongue which he then holds between his front teeth (see picture). He does this as a reaction to the pleasure of being tickled.

His breeder John Koster of Klawervlei Stud was at the braai and said he had never before seen a horse doing this in all his decades of working with them and added, "Jean Heming once told me the horses who did such unusual things were always the great ones. It is a sign of character."

Originally posted on Gold Circle’s Facebook

To answer the Q then yes 😊.
After winning the Challenge then travel to Durban to run in a sprint three weeks before the July and then onto and win the July. (It is so easy to be a trainer 😁).


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If the Komet can win the Challenge and the July would he become the first to win the Grand Slam?


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HollywoodBets can further sponsor the July with an extra 1 or 2 bar or so, conditional that the Komet runs.


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Mac wrote:

If the Komet can win the Challenge and the July would he become the first to win the Grand Slam?


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Depends on what races you consider makes up the Grand Slam. I always thought it was, The Met, The July and The Summer Cup. At one stage they even had a bonus for winning all those races.

El Picha almost did the above treble until, Badgers Coast spoilt the party in the Met, beating him close to home.

Sjoe, the Summer Cup for the new era? (I think that race will be downgraded to Gr2). Nice story on El Picha.


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Badgers Coast was my very favourite horse...

I don't care how good a horse you are,it will be extremely hard to have a hard 2021 KZN season, then the Cape season followed by a trip to the Highveld for their big race and then to try and win the Hollywoodbets July after that, giving weight all around. For R5 Million I know where I would be heading. Lets see if at 16:25 on the 1st Saturday in July I was right or wrong.

Irreapective of who my money is on, I will be delighted if Kommet wins every one of the races planned for him. What a horse he is!

Hats off to the connections of the champ for not hiding their horse.
I can’t understand why the connections of Double Superlative did not take on the Triple Crown racing’s given his rating and the weight he would carry in the July if he runs. The owner and trainer have plenty of back up at the stable to target the winter season races.

I noticed the article was produced by Gold Circle. Where is Cape Racing ? Are they not interested in their hometown heroes? Racing journalists of yesteryear would be tripping over themselves for a scoop. Gold Circle also led the way in the build up to the Queens Plate and Met.
Does Cape Racing even care about the South African Racing scene ?Cape Racing may believe that they have the Royal Ascot of race meetings, well here’s a thought does Royal Ascot race all year round? Close up shop during the off season and have your boutique racing festivals during the summer.