Darley sire Commands edged one win clear of Redoute’s Choice on the Australian sires’ premiership table in the winners category after another absorbing day’s racing on Saturday. Commands has been in red hot form with 18 winners in the past 30 days alone.
Commands (134) and Redoute’s Choice (133) have a 10 win lead over Encosta de Lago and Testa Rossa with five weeks remaining before the end of the season. Commands maintained a slender margin following the debut win of Soul in the Bigscreencompany Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Soul (2g Commands-Marvilha by Night Shift) was friendless in the betting ring but drew clear for Craig Newitt over the concluding stages to score by just under two lengths.
Darley assistant trainer Paul Snowden was not surprised with the ease of the victory. “After his first jump out, I rang Dad and said I want to run him down the straight because he just does everything right,” Snowden said. “You don’t necessarily need the best horse to win down the straight, but just one that does everything right on the day and this horse definitely falls into that category.
Snowden will consult his father Peter before deciding what direction to head with Soul. “He’s still growing and has another three months up his sleeve before we see the best of him. We might put him away for a brief freshen up and get him ready for some of the early spring three year old races.”
Darley’s Melbourne rider Mark Zahra is currently on vacation but Craig Newitt was more than pleased to pick up the ride on the well bred juvenile. “He’s a genuine spring horse for sure,” Newitt said. “He travelled beautifully in the run and let down like a Group horse. I can’t wait to see what he produces on top of the ground.”
Soul is from a winning half sister to G1 Golden Rose winner Denman and G1 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Preserve (Canny Lad). Denman won the corresponding race at headquarters last year before going on to an international career. He will represent Darley in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket next month.
Since foaling Soul, Marvilha has produced a filly by Commands named Metaphor and a weanling filly by fellow Darley sire Street Sense (Street Cry).