KOMMETDIEDING LANDS VODACOM DURBAN JULY

Bargain buy Kommetdieding scored a fairytale win when the Klawervlei Stud bred colt won Saturday’s G1 Vodacom Durban July (2200m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

In landing the 125th running of the July, Kommetdieding showed his class and stamped himself as one of the best horses in training.

The colt also provided jockey Gavin Lerena, training partnership of Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford and owner Ashwin Reynolds with their first success in the July.

Rix and Crawford had opted to replace Kommetdieding’s regular rider Sihle Cele with Lerena for the July and their decision clearly paid dividends. The colt, who had finished third in his two previous starts in KwaZulu-Natal, reversed form with his G1 Daily News 2000/G2 World Sports Betting Guineas conqueror Linebacker with a courageous win.

Despite racing wide through much of the race, Kommetdieding kicked on gamely in the closing stages to score by half a length.

Top-class three-year-old Linebacker, yet to finish out of the top two in nine starts, was game in second spot, with last year’s July runner up Got The Greenlight having to settle for third.

Dual July winner Do It Again put in another bold showing while finish fourth, while conceding the winner 4.5kgs.

Now a winner of five of his seven starts, Kommetdieding claimed his first G1 victory in a time of 133.71 seconds.

A R55 000 buy from the 2019 Klawervlei Farm Sale, Kommetdieding took his earnings to R1 676 000 with his July triumph over fellow Klawervlei Stud-bred Linebacker (Captain Al).

The colt, who has now surely ensured for himself a place at stud, is one of 13 stakes winners for former Equus Champion Elusive Fort (by Fort Wood). The latter is also responsible for the G1 winners Lauderdale, Out Of Your League and Siren’s Call, as well as this season’s high-class three-year-old Catch Twentytwo.

Kommetdieding is out of the Captain Al mare Adorable (a three-parts sister to triple G1 winner Captain America) who won three times and who ran second in the Listed Gardenia Handicap.

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