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Picture: Surjay holds off a fast-finishing Kommetdieding on Saturday (Wayne Marks).

“The People’s Horse” showed he is still very much in the big race picture when making a fine comeback run in Saturday’s Bantry Bay Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

 
David Mollett (Business Day)
 
Having his first run since going down by a neck to Jet Dark in the Champions Cup at Greyville in July, the 2021 Durban July winner was narrowly beaten by Brett Crawford’s speedy four-year-old, Surjay.
 
In January this year Kommetdieding ran second to Jet Dark in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate but got his revenge on Justin Snaith’s star in the WSB Met three weeks later.
 
Jet Dark showed he was in fine fettle with his recent win so the prospect of the two talented performers locking horns in the King’s Plate on January 7 is mouthwatering indeed. Throw in the possibility of horse of the year Captain’s Ransom being in the field and the Grade 1 race will be even more interesting.
 
The 1,200m of Saturday’s race was obviously on the short side for Kommetdieding, but this didn’t deter the five-year-old’s fans from weighing in and backing him down to 33-10. Gavin Lerena gave his mount a perfect ride and the performance will have delighted the training team of Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford.
 
Surjay’s win — the fourth of his career — showcased the talent of Gauteng-based rider Kabelo Matsunyane, who stood in for the suspended Louis Mxothwa. He is enjoying an excellent season and is in fifth place in the national jockeys log.
 
There wasn’t a happy comeback for former champion sprinter Rio Querari, who was beaten eight lengths. The best days of the son of Querari may be behind him.