Commands (horse) explained

Horsename:Commands
Sire:Danehill
Grandsire:Danzig
Dam:Cotehele House
Damsire:My Swanee
Sex:Stallion
Foaled:28 September 1996
Country:Australia
Colour:Bay
Breeder:Arrowfield Stud
Owner:Jack Ingham
Bob Ingham
Darley Stud
Trainer:John Hawkes
Jockey:Larry Cassidy
Darren Gauci
Record:15: 4–1–4
Earnings:AU$417,231[1]
Race:Missile Stakes (1999)

Commands (28 September 1996 – 12 July 2014) was an Australian stakes winning racehorse and stallion.

Background

Bred by Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Commands was a full brother to 5-time Group One winner Danewin.[2]

Racing career

Commands won 4 races in his 15 start career with the highlight being the 1999 Missile Stakes at Rosehill as a two-year-old, beating the older horses at Weight for Age.[3]

He also ran placings in two Group One races, running third behind Redoute's Choice in the 1999 Caulfield Guineas and a second placing in The Galaxy.

Stud career

Commands was retired to the Inghams' Woodlands Stud and in his first year in 2000 had a service fee of $10,000.

Darley Stud acquired ownership of Commands in 2008 following the purchase of the Inghams' breeding empire in Australia.

Commands retired from stallion duties in 2013. He is the sire of 14 time Group One winner Melody Belle. Overall he sired 13 individual Group One winners, and been Australia's "Leading Sire by Winners" on 3 consecutive occasions.[4]

Commands died suddenly on the 12 July 2014 at Darley's Kelvinside property in New South Wales aged 17.[5]

Notable progeny

Commands' Group One winners:

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

FoaledNameSexMajor wins
2001UnduegDoomben 10,000, Oakleigh Plate
2002ParatroopersgAll Aged Stakes
2004RussetingfWinter Stakes
2005PurplefVinery Stud Stakes, Queensland Oaks
2007ErewhongSpring Champion Stakes
2007 SkilledcChampagne Stakes
2008Appearance fMyer Classic, Coolmore Classic, Queen of the Turf Stakes, Canterbury Stakes
2009 Commanding JewelfThe Thousand Guineas
2009EpaulettecGolden Rose Stakes, Doomben 10,000
2012HollercCanterbury Stakes
2013ManuelgC F Orr Stakes
2014Bella VellafRobert Sangster Stakes
2014Melody BellefManawatu Sires Produce Stakes, Tarzino Trophy (twice), Windsor Park Plate (three times), BCD Group Sprint, Haunui Farm Classic, New Zealand Stakes (twice), Livamol Spring Classic (twice), Empire Rose Stakes, Thorndon Mile

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Commands Horse Search . racingnsw.com.au . 8 September 2021.
  2. Web site: Sibling rivalries. tdnausnz.com.au . 8 September 2021.
  3. Web site: Feature race Missile Stakes . Australian Turf Club. 8 September 2021.
  4. Web site: The legacy of Commands . Darley Stud. 8 September 2021.
  5. Web site: Sad loss of super sire Commands . dynamicsyndications.com . 8 September 2021.