Commissioner off to a winning start
COMMISSIONER has added another chapter to his intriguing career by winning on debut for Gold Coast trainer John Smerdon.
Jockey Jason Taylor steered the four-year-old gelding to a win in Saturday’s 1200m Class 2 Handicap at Aquis Park after going sixwide down the straight.
It followed two trials earlier this year for the stable.
“It was a nice run. By all reports the horse had been working really good and John was pleased he raced accordingly,” Taylor said. “The horse has been known to begin a bit slow and take a little while to get into his stride.
“Basically the plan was to begin as well as we could and to try and ensure that I was within striking distance on the corner. Around the 600m mark I had to give the horse a bit of a rev-up. He was going to drop the bit and get a bit casual around the 600m.
“He actually tracked into the race really nicely from there on in. I got him into clear galloping room and he hit the line very strong.”
Commissioner placed in a small field in the Phelan Ready Listed as a two-yearold and spent time racing in
Victoria as part of a career that has been spread across five trainers.
“Saturday was only (Smerdon’s) third run with the horse but he has impressed him so far so I suppose it will be about keeping him progressing.”
Meanwhile, jockey Chris Taylor has been suspended for eight days for careless riding on Cossie in the Class 4 Handicap (1100).
Stewards declared that Cossie was “raced wide during the early stages before striding forward to obtain a position outside the leader”.
“After passing the 300m when placed under pressure, (he) commenced to shift out forcing Fuji Flyer wider on the course,” the report read.