Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-prepared 2-year-old Command Approved (Spirit Of Boom) again caught the eye in winning his second trial at Rosehill on Monday morning, under Jean Van Overmeire.
The neat looking bay colt had showed plenty of dash in his first trial at Randwick on October 19 to lead throughout, although it was obvious that he was running on raw talent, as he stargazed and changed stride in the closing stages under by Tim Clark to finish off well over the 742 metres in 43.23s.
In Monday’s trial over 900 metres, he was set alight by Van Overmeire and burst away from the pack after 300 metres, to really stretch the field of nine out over 12l. Still inclined to look about in the straight, the colt kept on well under persuasion for another top effort to win by 1.6l and post 54.75s on a Heavy 8, the fastest of the three 2-year-old trials.
A product of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Newgate, Command Approved was purchased by James Bester and Vantage Thoroughbreds for $170,000.
TDN AusNZ caught up with Vantage Thoroughbreds' Director Chris Charalambous after the trial, to touch on his immediate plans for the colt.
“We haven’t really set anything in concrete yet with Adrian; but I think the Magic Millions looks really appealing now. So more likely he will head down the Magic Millions path, so let’s hope we are there early next year,” Charalambous said.
“We haven’t really set anything in concrete yet with Adrian (Bott); but I think the Magic Millions looks really appealing now."- Chris Charalambous
“It was James Bester who hand-picked him from early in the Sale as a nice style of a horse, so we decided to have a crack; at first he did not meet his reserve, so James negotiated the right deal after, and we were happy to take him home.
“Gai and Adrian also trained the mother who had good ability and that also helped.”
Command Approved looked as much at home on the Heavy 8 as he did on the firm track in his first trial, which did not surprise Charalambous at all.
Command Approved as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Very happy with his trial today and not at all surprised that he handled the heavy, as Flamboyant Lass was a good wet-tracker and his sire went okay on it as well,” he said.
Colt to benefit with time
Regardless of Command Approved’s bright showing in his two trials, Charalambous feels the colt will be a far better horse with time.
“We still feel that physically he is six to 12 months off being the finished product; but he is definitely in the right stable to perform.”
"We still feel that physically he (Command Approved) is six to 12 months off being the finished product; but he is definitely in the right stable to perform." - Chris Charalambous
The dam Flamboyant Lass is a daughter of Stratum from Flamboyance (Snowland).
Flamboyant Lass placed second in the Listed Reginald Allen S., and was only 1.2l away in fifth spot in the G1 Flight S.
Runner-up to Command Approved in both his trials, was the good-looking son of I Am Invincible, Vinnie’s Spirit, who is also prepared by Waterhouse and Bott.
Vinnie's Spirit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Vinnie’s Spirit is out the Segenhoe Stud draft from the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was knocked down to Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $325,000.
The bay colt moved well in both trials, in particular his second one on Monday morning, where he was just getting into his rhythm late to run on strongly.
Of the other 2-year-old trials, Evening Star (Rubick) showed good speed to lead throughout and win in the first heat over 900 metres for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, while Mark Newnham’s Swift Sweet (Snitzel) did a nice job leading throughout in the other.
