Wattle Brae Stud stallion Court Command has died from a severe bout of colic.  The news is the latest blow in a “annus horribilis” for owners Gary and Phoebe Turkington.

Wattle Brae staff spent three days battling to save the 10 year-old.  Court Command (Commands) won 6 races up to G2 level in the Stan Fox Stakes and had sired 35 individual winners of 65 races from his first two crops.

The Queensland based stud is one of several tests cases in the Equine Influenza class action that has been dragging on since E.I. devastated the industry in 2007.  The Turkingtons claim it cost their business more than $3 million.

Last month, Gary and Phoebe’s 16 year-old daughter Paris suffered severe burns in a domestic accident at a friend’s house when another teenager poured methylated spirits on to a previously well-contained fire.

Paris is in a Brisbane hospital undergoing extensive treatment.