Golden reminder

AUGUST 26, 2010: This weekend’s renewal of the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens gives us a perfect opportunity to remind breeders of the exceptional racing ability and stallion potential of Wattle Brae Stud resident Court Command.

One of the very best 3-year-olds of the 2006 spring racing period, Court Command ran out a brilliant winner of the very same contest during that memorable campaign, and against one of the race’s finest-ever line-ups.

In fact, Court Command finished no less than two and a half lengths ahead of his nearest rival in the Golden Rose, easily accounting for the likes of Empire’s Choice, Mentality, Gold Edition, Excites, Universal Queen, He’s No Pie Eater and Casino Prince --- all Group 1 winners either before the race or subsequent to the event!

Indeed, it was very much due to the strength of the Golden Rose field the year Court Command won the feature that the race was subsequently upgraded to Group 1 status.

As Tara Madgewick of www.breednet.com.au pointed out this week on her very informative website, the Golden Rose is not just one of the highlight events on the Sydney Spring Racing calendar, but also a very reliable guide to future stud success.

Tara observed: “First run in 2005 as a Listed race, the 1400 metre $1million Group One STC Golden Rose run at Rosehill on Saturday has quickly established itself as a sire making race with the only three colts to win it all being given commercial opportunity at stud.

“Last year’s brilliant winner Denman is set to embark on his first season of stud duties at Darley this spring at a fee of $38,500, the 2008 winner Duporth is also making his stud debut at Kitchwin Hills at a fee of $22,000, while the 2006 winner Court Command stands at Wattle Brae Stud in Queensland at a fee of $13,750 and will have his first yearlings at the sales in 2011.”

Tara added: “Even when previously run as the Group Two STC Peter Pan Stakes over 1500 metres, this race was at times an influential one in terms of making sires with past winners including Flying Spur, Magic Albert and the ill-fated Brave Warrior…”

History has shown that a colt good enough to win a Peter Pan Stakes or Golden Rose is from the very top-shelf and deserved of every possible opportunity at stud. We are confident that Court Command will enhance a proud tradition and encourage your enquiry for his third covering season.

AUTHOR: Wattle Brae Stud administration