Randwick Trial For Court Command
Story By Chris Scholtz
Tuesday, 19 February 2008:  | | Court Command |
Trainer Darren Smith has entered Court Command for Friday's barrier trials to prime him for his planned return to racing at Randwick on March 1 in either the $125,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) or $100,000 Frederick Clissold Stakes (1200m).
Friday's trip to Randwick will be the second trial for Court Command after he won a heat over 800m on his home track at Broadmeadow on February 4, signalling that he had made a pleasing recovery from fitness problems that hindered his form last autumn.
Court Command won four of his first six starts in 2006 including the $1 million Golden Rose, G2 Stan Fox Stakes and G1 G3 Up And Coming Stakes.
He attracted multi million dollar stud offers after he finished third in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
However he slipped off the radar last year when he was restricted to just two unplaced starts in the early autumn leading to a long spell after he jarred up and was found to be suffering from muscle soreness.
The son of top sire Commands is still an attractive stud prospect and his value will soar again if Smith can get him back to his spring form of 2006.
Smith said the decision to send Court Command to Randwick for a trial would give him a better idea of the four-year-old's current state of play.
"We want to know where we are with the horse,” Smith said.
Hugh Bowman will ride Court Command in Friday's 850m trial but Daryl McLellan, the Newcastle jockey who has been his partner in all but one of eight starts, is in line to reclaim the mount on Saturday week.
McLellan, also on the comeback trail after almost 12 months out of racing, has been riding Court Command in trackwork at Broadmeadow.
He has trimmed his weight from 62kg to 55kg and rode his first winner since his return to the saddle at Broadmeadow last Saturday.
Smith will keep Court Command to sprint races and sees the $350,000 AJC Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick on March 22 as the ideal chance for the stallion to win a Group One race.
Friday's trials have attracted a massive 222 entries with up to 27 heats to be run.
Other notable entries for the trials include Desert War, Tuesday Joy, Mutawaajid, Guillotine, Keen Commander, Danleigh, Forensics, Hot Danish, Utzon, Shaft and Apercu.
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