Sydney, June 21 – Improving four year-old Grand Commander finally brought his good provincial form to town when he scored a tenacious win in the Ratings 81 event over 1400 metres at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse trained gelding was allowed to lead and kicked strongly to win by a short neck, posting his fourth win from his last five starts.
A $190,000 purchase from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2005 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Grand Commander has now won over $100,000 for Glenvallen Investments in winning five of 11 starts and placing a further four times.
Bred by Shadwell Australia and raised at Yarraman Park, Grand Commander is from the stakes-winning Last Tycoon (IRE) mare Asawir, a half-sister to outstanding racehorse and sire Snippets.
At stud, Asawir has made her mark as the dam of stakes-winner Ghareeb and stakes-placed Nasmah, the dam of Group One winner Rewaaya.
It’s a family that has really kicked on in the last few years with Golden Slipper winner and dual Group One winner Forensics also featuring in the pedigree.
