Time For War's Commando Hunt Salutes in Scone Cup

Mark Smith - Friday May 12

It was a local winner of Friday’s $200,000 Listed Darley Scone Cup (1600m), but perhaps not the one punters were hoping for.

Advertisement
 

The favourite Banju tended to over-race and trailed in ninth as the Cameron Crockett-trained Commando Hunt pounced under a perfectly timed ride by Jeff Penza.

The 5yo son of Time For War clung to a desperate short-neck win over the Kris Lees-trained grey Luncies (Iffraaj), with that gelding’s stablemate Acquitted (Night Of Thunder) a half-neck back in third.

Jeff Penza time it right on Commando Hunt (image Inglis)

With his maiden stakes success, Commando Hunt advances his record to five wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $486,880.

“I listened to all the experts this morning, and they never mentioned his name,” Crockett said.

“Thanks to Des Kennedy, a long-time supporter. Everything has panned out perfectly, and he is off to the Big Dance.”

A $30,000 purchase for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock at the 2019 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale, Commando Hunt races for his breeder Des Kennedy with Max Whitby and Brian Rutter.

Commando Hunt is the best of six winners from eight to race for the Strategic mare Misasio who has a yearling colt by Sooboog, which was a $20,000 purchase for Horse Power Import & Export from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2023 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale.

Tragically a three-quarter sister to Commando Hunt, by Time For War’s Silver Slipper-winning son Time To Reign, died after her birth last spring.

Commando Hunt a $30,000 Inglis Scone yearling

A $1,000 purchase at the 2008 Inglis Scone Broodmare Sale, Misasio revisited the Kitchwin Hills Stud-based stallion last November.  

Commander Hunt is the fourth stakes-winner for Snitzel’s Time For War, who died after covering just two books at Kitchwin Hills.

Advertisment

Race Result - Darley Scone Cup LR 1600m

Scone Track: Good(4) Time: 1:34.66
1
Commando Hunt
- 5g Time For War (AUS) x Misasio (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Cameron Crockett Rdr: J Penza 54
2
0.2
Luncies
- 6g Iffraaj (GB) x Under The Rainbow (GB) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 57
3
0.4
Acquitted
- 6g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Blameless (IRE) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
4
0.8
Cisco Bay
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Imagining (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: R Dolan 54
5
3.0
Superium
- 6g Verrazano (USA) x Rosie's Halo (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: B Looker 54
6
3.1
Rebel Rama
- 5m Dissident (AUS) x Mossarama (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: M C Conners Rdr: Ms M Weir 54
7
3.2
Wild Chap
- 6g Toronado (IRE) x Pipkin (AUS) (Gallo Di Ferro (USA))
Tnr: B M Lazzarini Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 54
8
3.3
Bold Mac
- 5g The Bold One (NZ) x Mrs Mac (NZ) (Colombia (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
9
4.7
Banju
- 6g Benfica (AUS) x Overlooked (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: Lyle Chandler Rdr: A Bullock 57.5
10
6.2
Berdibek
- 9g Dark Angel (IRE) x Beraviyna (IRE) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Tyler Schiller 58
11
7.1
Jojo Was A Man
- 5g Al Maher (AUS) x Jo Jo Girl (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Reece Jones 56.5
12
7.2
Hasabro
- 7g Savabeel (AUS) x Halloween (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: H Van Der Hoven 54
13
7.3
Criaderas
- 6g Lonhro (AUS) x Youthful Presence (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: Cody Morgan Rdr: Rachel King 54
14
7.4
Bartholomeu Dias
- 8g Mount Nelson (GB) x Lady Francesca (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 56.5
15
9.3
Ligulate
- 7g Domesday (AUS) x Florets (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Cody Morgan Rdr: J Ford 54
16
14.4
Aleas
- 5g Archipenko (USA) x Alea Iacta (GB) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 55
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
Inglis Digital Bargain Buys Deliver Kosciuszko Dreamers
Sunshine Law was not the only Inglis Digital success story to come out of the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with two contenders for this year’s $2million Kosciuszko also giving connections cause to dream big and one of them is an unbeaten mare with a Black Type pedigree.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Highland Blaze Wins $250,000 Grand National Hurdle
Jumps racing was the highlight at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday with the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) the highlight and the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) offering a great start to the day.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.