Death of Commands
Commands died from natural causes, believed to be a heart attack, at Darley in the Hunter Valley, yesterday two weeks short of his 18th 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
Reputations Dented
Reputations were dented on Saturday when last start winners, Zebulon and Vuelta, failed to uphold their form when both were beaten in the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington.
Both had been touted by their respective trainers as possible Caulfield Guineas prospects, no signs of that when both slipped off the radar.
There was no point hanging about in the cold, seeing was believing, both runs were pretty ordinary on their previous wins at the same venue Flemington.
Vuelta took up the early running once the gates opened, leading until well into the straight before he finally surrendered completely, contrary to his previous win, he also blew like the wind in betting.
Zebulon, the favourite, didn�t perform to what was expected, sure he drew the outside, raced wide for much of the trip, when Glen Boss called on him he responded, but it was a short lived affair, he was gone when challenged.
Another example of winter form, it seldom stands up when the better horses are beginning to appear, those that have raced during the winter have faded out.
There are no set plans for the winner Crafty, she could make into a handy filly, this was her second win from five starts.
She came from a long way back in the field and ran the 1600 metres right out, there is no set plan for her at present as her trainer Robert Smerdon is holidaying overseas.
Triple Gold could pick up a race shortly; he was running on well at his second start, he is trained by Peter Moody.
Crafty in the center winning from Triple Gold
Dig A Pony In Fine Form
Dig A Pony lumped her 58 kgs, with a minimum of fuss, when she put paid to her rivals winning in winning the Rivette Series Final, named in honour of a gallant mare that won the Cups double in 1939.
Whilst there is no resemblance of this filly and the mare Rivette, this one is handy; she will be given the chance to show it later in the year by her trainer, Peter Moody.
Her win was quite authoritative, as she had to come from near last with 12 runners in front of her on entering the straight.
It was a popular win as she was the only one that punters wanted to support; she squared the ledger up for them after the defeat of the favourite in the first race.
Peter Moody thought the filly might have been looking for a break after her previous run; however, she has really sparked up over the last 10 days, as was shown by her win.
Moody is now looking for a race with Black Type towards the end of the Spring carnival, she now deserves a chance as she will be a four year old.
Dig A Pony is by Mutawaajid, among the tallest stallions in the country, standing 17.2 hands.
Dig A Pony winning the Rivette Series
Ciaron Maher. A good judge
Ciaron Maher was a man on a mission when attending the Inglis May Sales, he was there to buy a horse, just one horse, his mind was made up and nothing was going to sway his judgement.
He was there to buy the rising seven year old entire, Marksmanship, among the lots being offered as part of the Lloyd Williams annual dispersal sale.
This was the horse he wanted, some said he had paid enough at $120,000 for a horse that had just won the one race, and was by Galileo, he was not the success as many had anticipated by so many Epsom Derby winners that have failed in the Southern Hemisphere.
That didn�t bother Ciaron, he was fully satisfied, he had what he went for, a horse ready to race within a couple of weeks.
Three runs , and three wins later , it does not get any better than that, Ciaron cast the element of risk aside, he was backing his judgement, as he always does, it hasn�t let down before and nothing has changed
Marksmanship was finally sold for $120,000, he has since shown a return of $130,500, this is just the beginning, he is as sound as a bell, no plans have been mentioned for him at the moment but a bit of homework will soon sort that out.
He was ridden a treat by Michelle Payne, she is a great judge of pace, when the challenges were thrown out in the straight; it was a cool head and soft hands that prevailed.
Marksmanship on the inside winning the Banjo Paterson
Refulgent Again Impressive
Refulgent turned in a repeat performance to his previous win at Flemington two weeks ago when he won again at headquarters, on Saturday.
His win in the Slickpix /TVN Silver Bowl Series Final was similar; he takes time to balance up before making a long sustained run that has seen him win twice at Flemington.
He still has a fair way to go to equal his namesake�s record of 13 wins in Queensland, however, on the score of prize money the present Refulgent is a long way ahead after winning just four races.
Bookmakers found it hard to lay anything else but Refulgent, he was the one the punters wanted, it was looked upon as almost a one horse race
The gelding will have another run at the end of the month at Caulfield in a $150,000 race; a decision will then be made in which direction he will take from there.
Refulgent and runner up, Turnitaround, both are by Hard Spun, each is from a daughter of Royal Academy who has proven a source of speed, his son, Bel Esprit, is evidence of that.
Turnitaround maintained his position throughout the race; while the tracks remain rain effected he might be worth a entry in the little black book.
Refulgent - Flemington specialist