‘Bring on the King’s Plate’

Jockey Gavin Lerena – a former national champion who has ridden a few decent horses in his time – commented after Saturday’s The Bantry Bay Stakes at Kenilworth: “I have never been so fast!”

He had just finished runner-up in the 1 200m sprint – aboard the wonderful Kommetdieding, best known for his middle-distance and stamina prowess.

It’s an old racing maxim that very best racehorses can win over any distance put before them.

Yes, Kommetdieding didn’t quite win, but he was the winner “two strides past the post”, according to bloodstock agent extraordinaire John Freeman.

Freeman had reason to be especially interested in Kommetdieding’s first outing as a five-year-old, for he had spent the previous week putting together a syndicate for the famous five year old’s entire career at stud, starting some time in 2023. Who wouldn’t get excited about a stallion prospect that can win over 2 200m and 1 200m?

Owner Ashwin Reynolds approached Freeman and John Koster, the boss of Klawervlei farm where Kommetdieding was born, with the prospect of a forming sire syndicate.

Such syndicates are cagey about values, so we don’t have any numbers. Whatever the price of a share, however, it wasn’t too much for the market. “Not surprisingly, given his superb race record, fine physique and classic pedigree, shares in Kommetdieding were sold out overnight,” said Freeman on Monday.

“Kommetdieding ticks a whole bunch of boxes … he is a good-looking, sound horse who has more than proved himself at the very highest level.

“The rags-to-riches story of the humble colt who went from obscurity to the unique Durban July/Cape Town Met double, will go down in history as one of the great stories in South African racing folklore.”

He has won or placed in 13 of 15 starts, has won or placed in six Grade 1 races and has already earned more than R3.7-million in stakes.

Trainer Michelle Rix has targeted the forthcoming L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Met, so those stake earnings could end up a lot higher.