Breeding & Racing Magazine

Wattle Brae Sire Court Command Aims At Gr1 Stradbroke

Queensland's Wattle Brae Stud announced 5YO stallion Court Command (Commands-Court House Lane, by Zoffany) "is on the verge of resuming his racing career for an assault on Brisbane's premier Gr1 events". Wattle Brae studmaster Gary Turkington confirmed Court Command "has been put into training with Brisbane trainer Liam Birchley & is only a few weeks away from resuming his race career". Court Command won a trial at Eagle Farm this week in preparation for the Gr2 QTC Sir Byrne Hart Stakes later in the month & Birchley reported he could not be any happier as Court Command prepares for his 1st race start since 22 March 2008. On the track previously, Court Command (a $120,000 yearling at the 2005 Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney) recorded 4 wins (including 2006's Gr2 Stan Fox Stakes over 1400m, Gr3 Golden Rose over 1400m & Gr3 Up & Coming Stakes over 1200m) & 1 placing (in 2006's Gr1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600m) from 10 starts for $996,600 earnings. Explaining the return to racing, Turkington noted: "Court Command thrived during his 1st season at stud in 2008 & at the beginning of the year we started to consider the option of a Queensland Winter Carnival campaign. It was our understanding that the horse never really returned to full health after his outstanding 3YO spring campaign & the season at stud did him the world of good. So we conducted a blood test before making a decision to put him back in to work & found that he was in tremendous order. Since then Court Command has been through the normal pre-training procedures at Washpool & has had another month or so of work at Eagle Farm, coming through both with flying colours." He will now be aimed at the traditional lead-up events towards a possible tilt at both the Gr1 BTC Doomben 10,000 & Gr1 QTC Stradbroke Handicap. Court Command's 1st book at Wattle Brae Stud last season comprised 109 mares & returned a fertility rate over 90%.