Darley sire Commands sired his sixth winner at the highest level when Erewhon turned the tables on Retrieve in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Erewhon (3g Commands – Pseudonym by Quest for Fame) was bred at Woodlands Stud and had won at Gosford and Warwick Farm before finishing runner-up to his Darley stablemate Retrieve (Rahy) in the G3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on September 18.

Darley trainer Peter Snowden said Erewhon’s win was extremely satisfying.  “If you had told me six months ago this horse would win a Group 1 race, I would have said you were kidding,” he said.  “I still think Retrieve is a better horse but Erewhon keeps stepping up.  It’s only a few weeks ago he won a maiden at Gosford.”

Erewhon joins a Commands Group 1 line-up that includes Paratroopers (AJC All-Aged Stakes), Purple (BRC Queensland Oaks & STC Arrowfield Stud Stakes), Russeting (Tatt’s QLD Winter Stakes), Skilled (AJC Champagne Stakes) and Undue (BTC Doomben 10 000 & MRC Oakleigh Plate).

Commands captured the 2009-10 Australian winners’ premiership with 143 winners to beat Redoute’s Choice (139).

The Danehill sire stands at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $66,000 (inc gst).  He got the Spring Champion winner from Pseudonym who was retired after three failures for Woodlands.  She was last on debut at Moonee Valley and then beat one runner home in subsequent outings at Sandown and Randwick.  She is a half-sister to the stakes winners Manana (Crown Jester), Accept (Military Plume) and Omens (Octagonal).