Quality Family Strikes Again (February 24 2010)

A classic WS family was again to the fore at Avondale today when the lightly-tried High Command made short work of his maiden rivals. Placed in one of his two previous appearances, the four-year-old romped home by eight lengths for the country's leading rider James McDonald.

Prepared at Cambridge by Stephen Marsh for Ascot Farm's Bruce and Maureen Harvey, High Command was bred by Garry Chittick and was a $100,000 Ready to Run Sale purchase in 2007. He is by Pins out of the winning Centaine mare Slightly Aloof and is a half-brother to the dam of multiple winner and stakes-performed Sharp Princess. Slightly Aloof is a sister to the six-time Gr 1 winning WS graduate Slight Chance, who has in turn left Gr 3 winners Salgado and Group-producing sire Dane Shadow.

WS stallion Savabeel was represented by his 20th individual winner when Zara Dancer coasting to victory in the opening event. A $200,000 yearling purchase by trainer Bruce Wallace, the colt had weighed in at his two lead-up starts and relished the good footing. He is a son of the Gr 3 Trentham Stakes winner Blanchard, herself a half-sister to Gr 1 winners Field Dancer (Easter Handicap, NZ Stakes) and Just A Dancer (Sydney Cup, Brisbane Cup).