Fifth Stakes victory for Commands gelding

After a first-up win last start, Commands gelding First Command jumped away a dominant favourite in the small field in the Kensington Stakes, controlling the race throughout to win the Listed event by just under a length, being eased down by jockey Glenn Boss.

A winner of the G2 Caulfield Stakes as well as a runner-up in the G1 Telegraph Handicap in New Zealand, the seven-year-old is a model of consistency, winning 12 times with a further eight top three placed efforts from 31 starts.

Bred by Gerry Harvey, First Command is out of the winning Hurricane Sky mare River Serenade, a sister to the G1 winner River Dove, a half-sister to the Stakes placed River Crossing (dam of Exceed And Excel Stakes winner Kulgrinda) and River Express (dam of Listed winner Cross Current). The dam of four to race, all winners, River Serenade is also the dam of the Hong Kong G2 winner One World. River Serenade has a yearling filly by Commands – a full sister to the five-time Stakes winner First Command.

With his yearlings selling up to $300,000 at the recent Magic Millions yearling sale and averaging $153,000 for the 13 to sell, Commands is currently leading the Australian General Sires' table.

As the sire of 54 Stakes winners including nine at G1 level, Commands will be represented by 15 yearlings at the Inglis Premier yearling sale which commences on 2 March at Oaklands Junction, Melbourne.