Complicate completes memorable day

Commands gelding Complicate led home a Darley-sired and Peter Snowden-trained quinella in the Listed Heading Out Hair And Beauty Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield October 16, defeating Lonhro gelding Academus by a length.

A winner of the Listed Canberra Guineas as a three-year-old last season, Complicate resumed last month with a dominant win at Mornington as a short-priced favourite. Ridden second-up by James McDonald and once again sent out favourite, Complicate had to fight hard to hold off stable mate Academus, the pair clearing out from their rivals over the concluding stages with more than four lengths back to the third placegetter.

Bred by Darley, Complicate is out of the Canny Lad mare Chaparra, making the gelding a full-brother to the five-time Stakes winner El Cambio. Chaparra has a three-year-old Commands colt named Achanizo, a yearling Denman filly and only yesterday foaled a colt by Commands’ G1-winning son Skilled.

As the sire of 59 Stakes winner globally, highlighted by nine G1 winners including last season’s triple G1 winner Appearance, as well as Epaulette, the winner of the G1 Golden Rose, Commands is standing the current breeding season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $55,000 inc. GST while Skilled is standing at Northwood Park at a fee of $6,600 inc. GST