Court
Command joins the Wattle
Brae Stud line-up
MAY
2008: One of Australia’s
most exciting stud
prospects is set
to make his debut
on the Wattle Brae
Stud stallion roster
for 2008, with the
historic Queensland
thoroughbred nursery
securing the services
of Court Command
(Bay 2003, Commands-Court
House Lane, by Zoffany*).
One
of the leading 3-year-old
sprinters of his generation,
Court Command won
40 per cent of his
lifetime
starts, appearing
nigh on unstoppable
during a Sydney spring
3-year-old campaign
that witnessed his
blistering speed used
to full effect.
Winner
of his only outing
as a juvenile when
taking a 1100-metre
maiden event at Wyong
in a scintillating
1m03.40s, the performance
served as a prelude
to three outstanding
performances seen
from Court Command
on his return to racing
at the beginning of
2006/07.
Assigned
the time honoured Group
3 AJC Up And
Coming Stakes (1200m)
at his second start
back from a four-month
spell, Court Command
won by no fewer than
four clear lengths
from a near capacity
field of 15 runners.
Impressive
as that was, the
Up And Coming
Stakes
only warmed-up
the
gifted colt for
his
career best performance.
At
only the fourth
outing
of his stunning
career,
Court Command streeted
an exceptional STC
Golden Rose (G3)
field to the tune
of two and a half
lengths.
A
true measure of the
performance is
revealed
in the fact that
found in the beaten
division were no fewer
than seven Group 1
winners,
either leading
in
to the contest
or
in post-race competition.
These
included the champion
racemare Gold
Edition,
the Classic winning
3-year-olds Mentality
(AJC Randwick
Guineas-G1),
He’s
No Pie Eater (STC
Rosehill Guineas-G1)
and Empire’s
Choice (QTC Queensland
Derby-G1), as
well
as this season’s
weight-for-age
winner Casino
Prince (AJC Chipping
Norton S.-G1).
Court
Command’s
3-year-old spring
campaign also featured
a win in the Group
2 AJC Stan Fox Stakes
(1400m) in the brilliant
time of 1m22.13s,
and most notably at
the prohibitive odds
of 2/9 favourite.
Following
his emphatic
hat-trick
of Sydney Group
victories,
Court Command
next
lined-up in the
Group
1 MRC Caulfield
Guineas
(1600m) in which
he again led
the market
and was sent
out
a 13/8 favourite.
The
contest witnessed
Court Command replicate
the performance
of
his own sire Commands,
finishing third
in
the most coveted
race on the Australian
3-year-old racing
calendar.
The
parallels that
can
be drawn from
their
respective Caulfield
Guineas placing
are
totally appropriate
for Court Command
is very much his
father’s
son.
Both
very powerfully built
bays with dark points
most effective at
distances ranging
between 1000-1400
metres, Court Command
and Commands each
possessed explosive
speed and specialized
at sprint distances.
Indeed,
this is very much
characteristic of
a breed that is winning
sprint assignments
the length and breadth
of Australia, results
which have long since
established Commands
as one of the most
commercial sire-sons
of Danehill (USA)
at stud anywhere in
the world.
With
his oldest progeny
still only 5-year-olds,
Commands has sired
no fewer than 236
individual winners,
of which 32 have
earned black-type.
His
best known offspring
include (dual Group
1 winner) Undue,
(Group 1 winner)
Paratroopers, El
Cambio, Marching,
Friday Creek, Posadas,
Monet Rules and
Keen Commander, horses
among the leading
sprinters in the
land over the past
couple of seasons.
Court
Command is the first
significant son of
Commands to enter
into stud service following
his retirement from
racing with the record
of four wins
and one minor placing
from 10 outings that
netted earnings
of $996,600.
An
introductory service
fee of $8,800 (inc.
10% GST) should see
him particularly
well received by Queensland
broodmare owners who
seem certain
to identify
Court Command as an
ideal QTIS stallion.
Author:
Wattle Brae Stud
administration 29/05/2008.
