The result of the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes has solidified Kommetdieding as the leading contender for Horse of The Year despite only finishing third in Saturday’s race.
The winner of that race, MK’s Pride, enters the Horse of The Year log for the first time, climbing to second place just seven points behind Kommetdieding.
In winning the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, MK’s Pride added to his earlier Grade 2 win in the Joburg Spring Challenge. He now moves ahead of Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom in the Horse of the Year and Champion Miler logs and leads the latter.
Jessica Motaung leads MK’s Pride in after his gutsy Gr1 score (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Rain In Holland moved up 16 points after winning Saturday’s SA Oaks (Gr2) and landing the SA Triple Tiara, while Safe Passage, not in action in the review period, is displaced from the Horse of the Year log by MK’s Pride.
Kommetdieding heads the log with 84 points from MK’s Pride (77), Jet Dark (72), Captain’s Ransom (72), Chansonette (72), Rain In Holland (70), and Pomp And Power (64).
Champion Three-Year-Old Colt
Aragosta entered the Three-Year-Old log after a narrow win in the SA Derby (Gr1). The only other log contender to race in the review period, Red Saxon, was unable to add to his points tally in the same race.
Pomp And Power remains firmly on top of the category on 64 points, ahead of Safe Passage (48), Double Superlative (46), Aragosta (44) and Red Saxon (40).
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
In landing the SA Oaks (Gr2) and with it the SA Triple Tiara during the period, Rain In Holland gained significantly on log leader Chansonette. However, she remains two points adrift of the latter for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honours.
These two are now well clear of their rivals. Chansonette leads with 72 points from Rain In Holland (70). Sprinkles (34), Desert Miracle (32) and Big Burn (30).
Champion Older Male and Female
Kommetdieding retains the lead in the Older Male category with 84 points, but now has serious competition from MK’s Pride on 77 points. Jet Dark remains just off the leaders on 72 points with Bohica and Seeking The Stars (both on 40) also in the mix.
There is no change to the order of the Older Female category with Captain’s Ransom on 72 points, well clear of Sparkling Water (35), Bold Fortune (24), Princess Calla (20) and Kitty Kat Chat (16).
Distance Categories
Smorgasbord entered the Champion Sprinter log after his win in the Senor Santa Stakes (Gr2). The log is still headed by Cape Flying Championship winner Bohica on 40 points from Cosmic Highway, Mr Cobbs and Smorgasbord (all on 20 points) and Gimme Dat making up the log on 16 points.
Smorgasboard – in contention in speed category (Pic – JC Photos)
MK’s Pride now leads the Champion Miler log on 77 points, relegating Jet Dark to second place on 48 points. Captain’s Ransom and Seeking The Stars (both on 40 points) are next followed by Kommetdieding (36).
Second Base has entered the Champion Middle Distance log after his win in the Colorado King Stakes (Gr2). The log is headed by Kommetdieding on 48 points from Captain’s Ransom and Flying Carpet (both on 32 points), with Second Base (30) and Jet Dark (24) next.
Sparkling Water on 20 points remains on top of the Champion Stayer log, while Nebraas enters the log after winning the Caradoc Gold Cup (Gr3) on Saturday. He is now on 10 points along with Doublemint, the now-exported Holy Warrior and Shangani.
The feature race action remains firmly on the Highveld for the next review period, with major points opportunities for participants in the Super Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Challenge, the Grade 1 HSH Princes Charlene Empress Club Stakes and the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint.
Equus Awards 2022 – Points Tables to 3 April 2022:
| Horse of the Year | Age | Sex | Pts |
| KOMMETDIEDING (SAF) | 4 | C | 84 |
| MK’S PRIDE (SAF) | 4 | C | 77 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 4 | C | 72 |
| CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF) | 4 | F | 72 |
| CHANSONETTE (SAF) | 3 | F | 72 |
| RAIN IN HOLLAND (SAF) | 3 | F | 70 |
| POMP AND POWER (SAF) | 3 | G | 64 |
| Champion Three-Year-Old Male | Age | Sex | Pts |
| POMP AND POWER (SAF) | 3 | G | 64 |
| SAFE PASSAGE (SAF) | 3 | G | 48 |
| DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE (SAF) | 3 | C | 46 |
| ARAGOSTA (SAF) | 3 | G | 44 |
| RED SAXON (SAF) | 3 | C | 40 |
| Champion Three-Year-Old Female | Age | Sex | Pts |
| CHANSONETTE (SAF) | 3 | F | 72 |
| RAIN IN HOLLAND (SAF) | 3 | F | 70 |
| SPRINKLES (SAF) | 3 | F | 34 |
| DESERT MIRACLE (SAF) | 3 | F | 32 |
| BIG BURN (SAF) | 3 | F | 30 |
| Champion Older Male | Age | Sex | Pts |
| KOMMETDIEDING (SAF) | 4 | C | 84 |
| MK’S PRIDE (SAF) | 4 | C | 77 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 4 | C | 72 |
| BOHICA (SAF) | 5 | G | 40 |
| SEEKING THE STARS (SAF) | 4 | C | 40 |
| Champion Older Female | Age | Sex | Pts |
| CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF) | 4 | F | 72 |
| SPARKLING WATER (SAF) | 4 | F | 35 |
| BOLD FORTUNE (SAF) | 4 | F | 24 |
| PRINCESS CALLA (SAF) | 4 | F | 20 |
| KITTY CAT CHAT (SAF) | 4 | F | 16 |
| Champion Sprinter | Age | Sex | Pts |
| BOHICA (SAF) | 5 | G | 40 |
| COSMIC HIGHWAY (SAF) | 3 | C | 20 |
| MR COBBS (SAF) | 5 | G | 20 |
| SMORGASBORD (SAF) | 3 | G | 20 |
| GIMME DAT (SAF) | 3 | F | 16 |
| Champion Miler | Age | Sex | Pts |
| MK’S PRIDE (SAF) | 4 | C | 77 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 4 | C | 48 |
| CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF) | 4 | F | 40 |
| SEEKING THE STARS (SAF) | 4 | C | 40 |
| KOMMETDIEDING (SAF) | 4 | C | 36 |
| Champion Middle Distance | Age | Sex | Pts |
| KOMMETDIEDING (SAF) | 4 | C | 48 |
| CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF) | 4 | F | 32 |
| FLYING CARPET (SAF) | 4 | C | 32 |
| SECOND BASE (SAF) | 4 | G | 30 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 4 | C | 24 |
| Champion Stayer | Age | Sex | Pts |
| SPARKLING WATER (SAF) | 4 | F | 20 |
| DOUBLEMINT (SAF) | 7 | G | 10 |
| NEBRAAS (SAF) | 5 | G | 10 |
| HOLY WARRIOR (SAF) | 5 | G | 10 |
| SHANGANI (SAF) | 4 | G | 10 |
- Media release on Thursday 7 April 2022 obo the Equus Awards Committee
