Ridgeport Farm sire Rommel (Commands) crowned a season-best treble when Battle Commander led all the way for Lisa Staples in the $100,000 Ascot Mile (1600m) on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Rommel’s 3yo gelding Twisted Steel appreciated the drop back from summer carnival company in the Croser Sparkling Plate (1100m) and his 2yo first-starter Maria Lucia followed up with an impressive victory in the Magic Millions Plate (1100m).
Mogumber Park sold Battle Commander (Photo / Western Racepix) and Maria Lucia at the 2023 and 2025 Perth Magic Millions Sales for $62,500 and $105,000, respectively.
Maria Lucia earned $84,540 on debut and that sent Rommel to the top of this season’s WA 2YO Sires’ Premiership.
Batttle Commander (4g Rommel – Weona Lady by Lonhro) was still only a Class 1 horse in October but has come of age with 5 wins in his last 9 starts and he was always in control to dominate the six-figure feature race on Saturday.
“We had high expectations when he was a young horse and he was only beaten a lip at his first start here,” trainer Paul Jordan recalled. “Then he lost form as a 3yo and we could never work out what was wrong.
“We gave him a couple of breaks but he still didn’t want to pick up the bit in his first couple of couple of starts this prep but since then has put his best foot forward like a good, honest horse.”
Batttle Commander is a full-brother to the Rommel city winners Ultimate Command and Diamond Command from Weona Lady who is a half-sister to the dam of LR Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) winner Flying Missile (Cable Bay). Weona Lady has a yearling filly by Bondi and filly foal by Rommel.
Ridgeport (as agent) has entered the Bondi filly as Lot 300 for the Perth Magic Millions on 20 February and Mogumber Park has an A Lot (USA) – Mindarie half-brother to Maria Lucia parading as Lot 32 on 19 February.
Mindarie (Safeguard) is a daughter of Mogumber Park blue-hen Clarecastle (Tribu) and her A Lot chestnut colt is also a half-brother to last year’s RL Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) winner Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work).
