There is plenty to like about the 2021 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July winner Kommetdieding’s pedigree.
He is a son of Equus Champion, and proven Gr1 sire, Elusive Fort, and hails from one of the very best families in the stud book.
Kommetdieding’s sire Elusive Fort seen winning his 3rd Gr1
His dam Adorable, by Captain Al, won three and finished runner up in the Listed Gardenia Handicap, and she ranks as a three-parts sister to Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, Gr1 Champions Cup & Gr1 Gold Challenge winner, Captain America who is sired by Captain Al.
Adorable’s dam was the high-class mare Dacha by Russian Fox, a dual winner of the now Gr3 Prix du Cap, with Dacha going on to produce a trio of black type winners.
Montjeu
In turn, Dacha was produced by Riding Light, a daughter of Prix du Jockey Club winner Top Ville, a top-class sire and broodmare sire of, among others, outstanding racehorse and sire, Montjeu and the Gr1 winners Dar Re Mi (dam of champion Too Darn Hot) Rewilding and River Dancer.
Riding Light, who was also dam of Gr2 winner Cruise Collection as well as the dam of Captain America, was a half-sister to Enchufar by Pharly, who also ended up in South Africa and who ranks as the dam of ten winners, including the useful galloper Boondoggle – by Roland Gardens.
The high-class Captain America (Pic – Gold Circle)
Flash On, dam of Riding Light, was a useful filly who ran third in the Gr3 Prix Cleopatre and who is out of Never Say Die mare Crystal Light.
Crystal Light’s third dam is 1000 Guineas winner Picture Play, and her granddam is the hugely influential mare Queen Of Light by Borealis.
The latter, a high-class mare who won both the Child and Criterion Stakes, features as the dam of numerous top-class performers including British classic winners Fairy Footsteps, Light Cavalry, Moonshell and Royal Palace, as well as such standout Gr1 winners as Crocket, Desert Prince, Doyen, Greinton, Lawman, and Miss Finland, to name but a few!
This is also the family of Celebration Mile winner and promising sire Kodi Bear (Kodiac) -whose daughter Mystery Angel ran second in the 2021 Gr1 Cazoo Oaks.
Further back, Picture Play’s third dam Absurdity produced a trio of high-class performers in Absurd in the Middle Park Stakes and is a multiple champion sire, Black Jester by St Leger and Jest in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks.
The latter produced the game but short-lived Epsom Derby winner Humorist by Polymelus.
Kommetdieding, whose half-brother Quantum King ran second on debut, traces back directly to the taproot mare Paradoxical. The latter also features as the fourth dam of one of history’s greatest broodmares La Troienne.
La Troienne
La Troienne’s numerous high-class descendants continue to make their mark around the world, and include current North American stars Maxfield, by Street Sense, and Essential Quality by Tapit, as well as high-class sires Flatter and More Than Ready.
The 2021 Vodacom Durban July winner’s sire Elusive Fort has had a memorable season in 2020-2021, with the champion son of Fort Wood responsible for five black type winners this season – Kommetdieding, Catch Twentytwo, Elusive Trader, Chitengo and Elusive Fortune.
