Two-year-old Commands colt Skilled (pictured) became the fifth G1 winner for his sire on Saturday, posting a truly magnificent performance to land the Champagne Stakes at Randwick.
Settled in fourth position, Skilled travelled well throughout the one-mile contest and accelerating down the middle of the track, battled superbly with Sasa close to home and crossed the line a head in front. Divorces, by fellow Darley stallion and first-season sire Domesday, came with a fantastic late run to take third and become the first G1 performer for her young sire.
Skilled has now won three of his six starts and was beaten just a short head in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes two weeks ago. Bred by Woodlands Stud, he is out of the G2-winning Quest For Fame mare Dextrous.
Commands is also sire of G1 winners Purple, Russeting, Paratroopers and Undue and stands at Kelvinside at a fee of $66,000 including GST. Domesday will stand at Northwood Park in 2010 at a fee of $11,000.
Also at Randwick, Shamardal recorded his eighth individual Black type winner when Happy Hippy took the 1400m James HB Carr Stakes, while Lonhro's talented and wonderfully consistent daughter Beaded finished third in the G1 All-Aged Stakes. Earlier on the card, three-year-old Lonhro colt Euphemism finished second in the G3 Frank Packer Plate.
