4 October 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
The two runners presented by Newmarket-based trainer Charlie Appleby in the Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie (Gr3), Friday at Saint-Cloud, took the first two places. In this 2-year-olds race over 7 furlongs, supposedly a prep race for the Critérium International (Gr1) on October 27 in ParisLongchamp on the same distance, King's Command (Dubawi) contained all attacks after leading the six-strong field and finally even extended his lead to end up three lengths ahead of his stablemate Royal Crusade (Shamardal), second in front of the French defender Wooded (Wootton Bassett). The first two race for Godolphin.
Prior to this success, King's Command finished third in Deauville in the Prix François Boutin (L) won by Happy Béré (Pedro the Great), only fourth here on a very soft ground. Godolphin's representative was then gelded. Last of 8 in a Group 2 race at Newmarket in July, he was trying to access the top shelf less than a month after his winning struggle for his debut at Newmarket.
King's Command is out of the unraced Australian mare O'Giselle (Octagonal), which has already given Albrecht (Redoute's Choice), a Gr1-placed in Australia between 7 and 8 furlongs, and Zakouski (Shamardal), promising at 2 but disappointing this term. O'Giselle is a sister to the sire Lohnro (Octagonal), multiple Gr1 winner over 8 to 10 furlongs in Australia.