Court Command returns from stud to win
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Michael Rodd returns to scale after Court Command’s BTC Sprint victory (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Court Command made a commanding return from stud to win the Group 3 Darley BTC Sprint 1350m at Doomben on Saturday, May 16.
Trainer Liam Birchley knew it would be a hard task to bring Court Command (H5 Commands-Court House Land) back to winning form but was confident before the race.
“It takes a little bit to bring them back from stud and they’re always a little bit fat after a year off,” Birchley said.
“I was always confident of the ability. It was just whether the desire was there and it looks like it is.
“He’s worked terrific leading into the race, but when the chips are down you just want to see them keep kicking and that’s what you don’t know until you actually do see it and we’ve seen it today and we might give him a couple of other go’s too.”
The race strategy was to run Court Command from the front and jockey Michael Rodd got the stallion off to a quick start from barrier eight.
He held on to the lead and extended along the straight to win by a length ahead of El Cambio (Kerrin McEvoy).
Hard to Catch (Brad Stewart) came in third a length and quarter back.
The $4.80 race favourite Kiloton (Brad Pengelly) finished well back in ninth place.
Michael Rodd felt the race plan worked well.
“Before the race Liam said he’s never won a race without leading, so all the races he’s won in the past, Liam’s gone through and seen he’s dominated from the front,” Rodd said.
“I gave him a good kick out of the gates and we had it nice in front.
“I was worried a little bit early that they might keep pressuring him, but from about the 1200m to about the 600m he was able to have a really nice breather and he relaxed underneath me and he was breathing properly and as we came around the turn I thought I’ll just try to sneak a couple of lengths on them and he might be hard to run down and he was strong to the line.
“It was a very good win.”
Rodd directed all credit to Liam Birchley for Court Command’s first win back from stud duties.
“He’s a Group 1 winner and he’s performed at the top level so he’s definitely up to these horses,” Rodd said.
“Liam got it out of him, and that’s all it was you know, getting the ability back out of him and all the credit goes to him.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Phoebe Grealy – May 16
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