News

Mare to produce Command performance before sale

3rd Jun 2011

Racenet - Brad Waters - Friday, 3 June 2011

Co-trainer Simon Zahra says stakes-winning mare Royal Commands can score one final win before she heads to the sales ring in Saturday's Samson Handicap (2100m) at Betfair Park – Sandown Lakeside.

Royal Commands's owners Barry and Midge Griffiths have decided to put the four-year-old to auction at the upcoming Inglis Australian Bloodstock and Weanling Sale in Sydney but Zahra said the mare has another win in her before she leaves the stable.

Royal Commands was good enough to score at Listed level in the carsales.com.au Classic (1600m) at Caulfield on Thousand Guineas day last year. The mare has been around the mark against the males in five starts this time in.

"All of her runs have been really good this time in,” Zahra, who trains the mare with Mathew Ellerton said.

"She just hasn't had that much luck in her races. Barriers have been against her in a couple of her races and the tempo hasn't been there in others.

"She is going really well. She is a consistent mare that just needs a bit of luck and she will be right in the finish.

"I think the extra ground on Saturday will help her and the races tend to thin out once you get past 2000 metres so she has a good chance.”

Chris Symons will be aboard Royal Commands on Saturday. Symons rode Royal Commands to her maiden success on the Sandown Lakeside track last year.

The pair will start the $70,000 race from barrier 10.