Kommetdieding (Elusive Fort) has been enjoying himself at Randjesfontein where he is being prepared for the Grade 1 wfa HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes on April 2 and the Grade 1 wfa Premier’s Champions Challenge on April 30.

The “People’s Horse” has been staying at Roy Magner’s yard and trainer Michelle Rix said he had enjoyed the Randjes tracks and she could not be happier with his well-being.

His blood has been assessed to see how he has adapted to the high altitude of Johannesburg and she said, “He has adapted very well and in fact much better than we thought he would.”

He will be given his final gallop ahead of the Horse Chestnut on the Turffontein grass next week.

Rix has been up and down from Cape Town and Kommet’s big race jockey Gavin Lerena and his wife Vicky have looked after him on the days she has not been there.

She said, “Gavin and Vicky have done a sterling job.”

KZN fans are hoping Kommetdieding is able to win his two Grade 1 races comfortably and still have enough left in the tank to journey down to the east coast to defend his Hollywoodbets Durban July crown.

On paper he is going to be hard to beat in both Highveld races considering the retirement of Johannesburg’s best horses from last season, Got The Greenlight (Gimmethegreenlight) and Malmoos (Captain Al), and the departure overseas of the like of War Of Athena (Act Of War) and Catch Twentytwo (Elusive Fort). 
 
However, there are a few Highveld three-year-olds whose true class is not yet fully known, the like of Red Saxon (Red Ray), Safe Passage (Silvano) and Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade), so it will be interesting if any of them line up in the Challenge. 

Picture: Wayne Marks