Sheikh Mohammed’s Purple was clearly the best backed filly in advance of the G1 Queensland Oaks at a rain-affected Eagle Farm today, and her supporters never had a moment’s worry as the daughter of Commands travelled easily throughout the 2400m Classic en route to posting a decisive victory. Given a perfect trip by Kerrin McEvoy, Purple passed the post one-and-a-quarter lengths in front of the runner-up Nothin’ Leica Cat after having the upper hand throughout the closing stages.
This victory was Purple’s second Group One success of the autumn, following her victory over 2000m in the Storm Queen Stakes at Rosehill last month. She will not, though, be asked to make it three for the season as her trainer Peter Snowden indicated after the race that he will not back her up in next Saturday’s Queensland Derby, in which she would have had an obvious chance. He reasoned that she has done enough in her current preparation and that she is worth saving for her four-year-old season, saying, “She’s a dual Group One winner and she’s just a lovely filly … she’s had six runs this preparation and that will do her; she’ll go to the paddock now and then she’ll win her share of races next season”.
Purple was bred by Woodlands Stud from the Zabeel mare Lady Viola. Her Queensland Oaks success takes the tally of Group One victories won by the progeny of Commands to five, the stallion’s other horses to have scored at the highest level being Paratroopers and Undue. This continues what has been a particularly successful season for Commands, who has also been represented this term by the likes of El Cambio and Court Command. Overseas his current representatives include the Hong Kong Group One runner-up Yellow Diamond and the French Listed winner Silver Point.
