First Command too good in Kensington Stakes

Jumping from the outside gate, jockey Steven Arnold made a last minute decision to bring the Anthony Freedman-trained First Command (Commands) across to the inside rail to record a tough win in the Listed Kensington Stakes over 1000m.

Finishing second in the G1 Telegraph Handicap on this day last year, First Command has now recorded 10 wins from 30 starts - four at Stakes level, and is one of the most consistent sprinters in Melbourne.

Bred by Gerry Harvey, First Command is out of the winning Hurricane Sky mare River Serenade and is a three-quarter brother to the Hong Kong-based G2-winning, G1-performing One World. River Serenade is a full-sister to G1 winner River Dove and a half-sister to River Crossing, the dam of Exceed And Excel Stakes winner Kulgrinda.

The sire of 44 Stakes winners including this season’s Lamasery, Queen's Commands, Ambidexter, Rain Affair, Jimando and Balmont, Commands will be represented by five yearlings at the forthcoming Inglis Classic yearling sale which will commence on January 22 and then a further seven at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier yearling sale which commences on January 30. An extremely interested lot to take note of is lot 450 at the New Zealand Bloodstock sale, a Commands colt out of the Zabeel mare So So, bred on the exact same cross of Commands' dual G1 winner Purple.