First Command booked his ticket for a trip across the Tasman with a strong on-pace victory in the L T Cleary Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.  The Lee Freedman trained sprinter held on to defeat Diplomatic Force (Oamaru Force) and Maxisun (Choisir) by more than a length.

First Command (5g Commands – River Serenade by Hurricane Sky) will now head to New Zealand where he will contest the NZ$1 million Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m).

Winning rider Dwayne Dunn was happy to be reunited with the gelding for their seventh win together.  “It’s great to be back on him,” Dunn said.  “He has been a real kind horse to me and it looks like he can keep improving.

“Get him to New Zealand with a little bit of cut in the ground and he’s going to be more than competitive.”

First Command is by Darley sire Commands and was a $170,000 buy out of the Baramul Stud draft at the 2007 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale.  He’s paid that back with interest winning 9 races in 17 starts and banking nearly $492,000.

His dam River Serenade is a sister to Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove.  She has also foaled Hong Kong star One World (Danehill Dancer) who was runner-up to Sacred Kingdom in the G1 HK Sprint in December 2009.

First Command deserves a Group 1.  He has been successful at the next level in the G2 Caulfield Sprint in October 2009 and he was also beaten a nose by All Silent in the G2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.

Commands has 22 lots catalogued for the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale.  Baramul will offer an Encosta de Lago half-brother to First Command (Lot 470) at the Magic Millions on Friday, January 14.