Becoming the first two-year-old Stakes winner of the new season for his sire, Commands colt Jimando proved he is surely a colt of the future with a excellent performance to win the Debutants Stakes over 1000m at Caulfield by three-and-a-quarter lengths on October 12.
Jumping away well from the gates, the Tony McEvoy-trained colt settled in third position throughout, before launching his claim as the field rounded the home turn. Jimando defeated the race favourite Princeton Miss, with Exceed And Excel colt Planet Voyage finishing in third.
Described by his trainer as a “big strong fella, who would be much better at three,” McEvoy indicated that he had no intention to run his colt at two, but he had done such a great job that he felt he would give him a start. A $50,000 purchase from the Magic Millions yearling sale, assuming the colt pulls up well from his run, he is likely to target the G3 Maribyrnong Plate in a few weeks time.
In recent years, the Debutants Stakes has been the launching pad for exciting G1 performers Sugar Babe (Exceed And Excel) and Meurice (Strategic).
Bred by Milburn Creek Thoroughbreds, Jimando is out of the Caerleon mare Finko, a daughter of the G1-winning Blushing Groom mare Rosefinch.
Coming off a highly successful 2010-11 season which saw him earn honours as the leading sire of individual winners setting an unprecedented benchmark of 155 winners, Commands is the sire of 42 individual Stakes winners, highlighted by G1 winners Erewhon, Purple and Skilled, as well as this recent Stakes winners Lamasery, Rain Affair and Ambidexter.
Standing at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $66,000 (inc GST), Commands has achieved G1 winners in each of his last three seasons and is right up there with the best stallion-sons of the immortal Danehill to stand in Australia.
