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.
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.
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.
Commands died suddenly on the 12 July 2014 at Darley's Kelvinside property in New South Wales aged 17.
Notable progeny
Commands' Group One winners:
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
Foaled Name Sex Major wins 2001 Undue g Doomben 10,000, Oakleigh Plate 2002 Paratroopers g All Aged Stakes 2004 Russeting f Winter Stakes 2005 Purple f Vinery Stud Stakes, Queensland Oaks 2007 Erewhon g Spring Champion Stakes 2007 Skilled c Champagne Stakes 2008 Appearance f Myer Classic, Coolmore Classic, Queen of the Turf Stakes, Canterbury Stakes 2009 Commanding Jewel f The Thousand Guineas 2009 Epaulette c Golden Rose Stakes, Doomben 10,000 2012 Holler c Canterbury Stakes 2013 Manuel g C F Orr Stakes 2014 Bella Vella f Robert Sangster Stakes 2014 Melody Belle f Manawatu 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
Pedigree
References