Wattle Brae Stud sire Court Command is making inroads with his first crop and the latest to emerge is Hong Kong based flyer Bullish Friend.

Bullish Friend (2g Court Command – Lady Jakeo by Last Tycoon) was never headed in the Breguet Griffin Plate (1200m) second time out at Sha Tin on Sunday.  He started an odds-on favourite after a most unlucky third on debut last month when he was mentioned five times in the stewards report.

Bullish Friend extended Court Command’s record to 7 individual first-crop winners.  “He will be much better in 12 months although he is still a frame of a horse,” HKJC sales director Mark Richards said.  “He is big and he is backward, but is well put together.  He should be well-suited to the environment here, too.”

Richards purchased Bullish Friend for $170,000 at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions with the intention of pin-hooking him for the Hong Kong market.  His value soared to HK$4 million (AUD 510,900) when trainer Tony Cruz bought him for Wong Wing Keung at the Sha Tin 2YO Sale earlier this year.

Court Command (Commands) was retired to stud after an outstanding career for trainers Darren Smith and Liam Birchley.  He stood for a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee at Wattle Brae in 2011.

A winner on debut as an April two year-old in 2006, he bloomed at three claiming the G3 Up and Coming Stakes, G3 Golden Rose and G2 Stan Fox Stakes before travelling to Melbourne for the G1 Caulfield Guineas.  He was given no peace in front by the home defence but battled manfully into third place behind Wonderful World.

Bullish Friend’s dam Lady Jakeo was a G1 winner of the VATC Blue Diamond Stakes and MVRC Australia Stakes.  Her earlier winners include G3 HKJC Juvenile Sprint Trophy winner Able Choice (Dehere) and G3 Hollywood Park winner Red Arrow (Red Ransom).

Red Arrow stood his first season at Lincoln Farm in 2010 before transferring to Blue Gum in Victoria last year.

Court Command stands at Wattle Brae alongside Easy Rocking (Barathea), Exceedingly Good (Exceed And Excel), Get Square (Redoute’s Choice) and Walking Or Dancing (Falvelon).