Peter Muscutt’s progressive Fire Away colt Military Command ran his ten opponents off their feet with a gun-to-tape victory in the second renewal of the R1,5 million CRS Cape Slipper at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the Royal Raceday on Sunday.
A winner at his second outing over 1000m at the same venue at end of February, Military Command relished the step up in trip to the 1200m as Craig Zackey enjoyed an armchair ride in a race restricted to graduates of the 2024 Premier Yearling Sale.
Craig Zackey has Military Command galloping relentlessly for a big payday! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
With the two unbeaten colts Dreamworld (2-1 tote favourite) and Black Cheetah (9-4) the popular choices, Military Command (7-1) overcame a few nervous moments in the gates and was never seen again, going all the way to beat debut winner Dreamworld by 2 lengths in a time of 70,17 secs for the 1200m.
Malmesbury Missile (16-1) made good ground late to be beaten a nose into third, with Black Cheetah a half length back in fourth.
Log-leading jockey Craig Zackey, who was enjoying a day at the office sandwiched between two suspensions, said he was impressed by Military Command when he won his maiden last time out and the youngster had confirmed his confidence.
Craig Zackey – chuffed with a progressive 2yo (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
An ecstatic Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer Peter Muscutt observed that his charge had done it the hard way and took advantage of the absence of the wind.
A R425 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy, the winner races in a partnership of former Gold Circle Director Steve Sturlese, Gino Da Silva, Blaine Hamilton & Tony Zackey. Sturlese’ black and blue silks were prominent on our tracks some years ago and this looks like a special comeback!
Military Command’s big payday now sees him with 2 wins from 3 starts, with a place on debut and stakes earnings of R1 033 688.
A son of Wilgerbosdrift’s blue-blooded War Front stallion Fire Away, Military Command was bred by Kiliminjaro Bloodstock and is out of the twice-winning High Chaparral mare, Lady Val.
Prepped at Soetendal prior to sale, the astute Julia Pilbeam labelled him ‘a colt that is hard to fault’ in our pre-sale notes just over a year ago.
He looks like one for the black-book.
