By Glenn Davis
Unbeaten three-year-old Command’n’Conquer will make a low-key start to his winter campaign when he returns at the Gold Coast on Friday.
Command’n’Conquer will have his first start since his all the way win over the highly rated Vanna Girl in a Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1350 metres at Doomben on March 28.
This Friday he will feature in the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 900 metres.
The son of Warhead previously scored a resounding win over 1350 metres at Doomben on March 11 after being trapped three-wide.
That followed an 1100-metre maiden win when he had the outside alley and was four deep on debut at Toowoomba in February.
Command’n’Conquer is one of the biggest three-year-olds racing in south-east Queensland, standing 17 hands tall and weighing around 620kgs.
Trainer Steve Tregea, who bred Command’n’Conquer, feels the Gold Coast assignment is an ideal race to start his winter campaign.
“He only had two weeks off after his last win and I was tossing up whether to give him a jump out at Toowoomba on Tuesday or run him at the Gold Coast to give him a good look at the track,” Tregea said.
Tregea has earmarked the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on Saturday week as one of his main winter targets.
“All being well he’ll go on to the Gold Coast Guineas the following week and if he goes good enough in that he’ll run in the Fred Best Classic,” Tregea said.
“He’s never been to the Gold Coast as his only runs have been at Toowoomba and Doomben so it will be good to give him a look at the track on Friday.
“When he started racing, he was a big fat thing but he’s trimmed down and is now 620kgs which is exactly where we want him.”
Tregea worked Command’n’Conquer with Stradbroke Handicap hopeful Niccanova at Toowoomba on Tuesday and was pleased with his work.
“He worked well with Niccanova who I’m hoping will get into the Stradbroke and I’m expecting him to be very competitive first-up,” Tregea said.
Tregea also owned his Command’n’Conquer’s mother, the unraced Commanding Queen, who is a half-sister to Prioritise and a full sister to Doula.
Between them, Prioritise and Doula won 17 races and more than $613,000 in prizemoney.
Racing Queensland webnews - May 6