Commands died from natural causes, believed to be a heart attack, at Darley in the Hunter Valley, yesterday two weeks short of his 18^th year.

Foaled in 1996 Commands was by Danehill, from the unraced mare Cotehele House, a daughter of Eight Carat, an unparalleled pedigree that could be likened to a rare gem.

His racing career was not that spectacular, he won four races from 15 starts, his best win being the Sydney Turf Club’s Missile Stakes Group 3.

He was a very much underrated sire, even when he stood at Woodlands, he never sired an outstanding horse, yet a great number of good horses, that included nine Group 1 winners, in all he was responsible for 32 Group winners and numerous at Listed level.

Commands - A Good Sire

Commands was a leading sire of winners for three consecutive seasons, he upgraded his mares with 42 of his 46 Stakes winners being from dams that had produced their best progeny to him.

His yearlings have always proven popular, among the star lots by him at the Sydney Easter Sales this year was the filly purchased by Shadwell for $600,000, she was out of Crossyourheart, top filly on the New Zealand Free Handicap for 2006-07.

This season Commands has had 122 winners from 284 starters, his total progeny earnings since going to stud in 2000 is $ 82,769,992, during his career he has shuttled a season in to France and another in Japan.

$600,000 Filly