The Group I HK Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (1600m) at Turffontein on the weekend was won by the favourite Got the Greenlight, a horse whose sire and dam were both bred in Australia.
The Champion South African 2YO Colt and also Champion 3YO Colt, the four year-old entire scored a half length victory, his seventh win from 15 starts and fourth at Group I level.
Got the Greenlight is the best of 32 stakes-winners by More Than Ready’s Australian bred South African Group I winner Gimmethegreenlight, who will have a son at stud here in Australia this spring in Yulong Prince (SAFR), who stands his first season at Yulong in Victoria.
Got the Greenlight is the first winner for Commands Chi, a minor winner in South Africa by Commands that was bought from Inglis Premier back in 2013 by James Bester for $100,000.
Commands Chi is from stakes-placed Chivana, a daughter of four time Group I winning Kiwi mare Giovana, who won the Queensland Oaks among her quartet of elite wins.
Commands mares have made their mark at stud which is worth noting given that his best mare, 14 time Group I winner Melody Belle will be offered at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Commands has sired the dams of 26 stakes-winners with Got the Greenlight one of three Group I winners joining Politeness (Street Sense (USA)and Contentment (Hussonet(USA).
