Club Command To Return To Racing In Magic Millions Cup

Club Command will return to racing in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on the Gold Coast on Saturday, after being scratched from the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).

Club Command will make his racing debut in Queensland in the Magic Millions Cup this weekend.

Club Command will make his racing debut in Queensland in the Magic Millions Cup this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Peter Moody included Club Command in the acceptances for both races but elected to chase the riches on offer at the Gold Coast; with the Magic Millions Cup worth $500,000 in prizemoney compared to the $100,000 available in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on Friday.

Club Command spent a lengthy stint in the paddock following his autumn/winter campaign, with Moody electing not to bring the five-year-old into work for the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but based on two barrier trial performances has returned in the form that he finished in last campaign.

Josh Parr rode Club Command to a dominant four lengths victory in a barrier trial over 740 metres at Royal Randwick on November 21 and he won another trial over 727 metres at the same venue on December 2.

Club Command made his racing debut with a dominant victory in the Parker Earthmoving Plate at Seymour in July of 2011 and has missed a placing just once in his twelve subsequent race starts.

The Commands gelding recorded four wins from six starts in 2012, scoring his maiden metropolitan victory in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1400m), and performed well when stepped up in class during the 2013 Melbourne Festival Of Racing.

Club Command made his Listed debut with a narrow second place finish behind Ready To Rip in the Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m) at Caulfield on March 23 and was unlucky when fourth behind It Is Written at Moonee Valley a fortnight later.

He stepped back-up to Listed level with a third place finish behind Speediness and Parthian in the Listed Pink Ribbon Cup (1400m) at Caulfield on April 20 and was narrowly denied victory by Bello in the All Victorian Sprint Heat (1200m) at Flemington on June 8 before finally breaking through for the first victory of his campaign in the TROA Championship Handicap (1410m) at Flemington on June 22.

Club Command ($10) is currently on the fifth line of 2014 Magic Millions Cup betting markets; with Chris Waller-trained Velrosso ($3.60) a narrow favourite from last start winner General Exhibit ($5), likely leader The White Hope ($5.50) and George Moore Stakes winner Lucky Hussler ($7).

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.