Momentous victory for Court Command

MAY 2009: In one of the best stories belonging to this or any other Australian racing season, Wattle Brae Stud resident stallion Court Command proved successful in the Group 3 BTC Sprint (1350m) at only his second start following the 2008 breeding season at stud.

Put back in to training in order to be campaigned during the 2009 Queensland Winter Carnival after covering 109 mares (94% fertility), Court Command was sent straight to the lead at only his second outing since March 2008 and completely out-ran a near-capacity field of distinguished open-age sprinters.

Court Command finished one-length clear of his nearest rival, the multiple Group winner El Cambio, with the multiple Listed Race winner Hard To Catch finishing a further one-and-a-quarter lengths away in third. Also to be found in the beaten division were the likes of Royal Discretion, Mr Baritone, Mr Hornblower, Masked Assassin, Teranaba and Red Element, all of which have won at stakes level --- two of which at Group 1 level!

The BTC Sprint (G3) success of Court Command was the fifth win of his remarkable career and his fourth at Group 2 or 3 level. The victory was also an outstanding achievement on behalf of the stallion’s trainer Liam Birchley, and a fitting reward for the courageous decision made by the horse’s owners to put him back in to work after a season at stud.

Court Command holds entries for both the BTC Doomben 10,000 and QTC Stradbroke Handicap, the two most prestigious Group 1 sprinting events of each and every Queensland Winter Carnival.

Author: Wattle Brae Stud 16/05/2009.