Commander Z gets perfect draw in Sunday’s feature

UNITED States-bred COMMANDER Z returns off a three-month break, without blinkers, perfectly drawn for a shot at Sunday’s Charles Hussey Trophy out the straight course.

A four-year-old colt, COMMANDER Z won on debut, 59.2 at five furlongs straight last year Aprilbut lost to CHOCOMO next out at the trip in May.

Fitted with blinders for his third run, COMMANDER Z toyed with local-breds, SHE’S THAT GIRL and OH SO SMART, winning in 1:13.0 at six furlongs in July.

After underperforming in back-to-back races on the round course, August and September,

COMMANDER Z won his third race from five starts, his second out the straight course, dead-heating with RAPIDO, 59.0 in November.

However, since graduating to overnight allowance a year ago, COMMANDER Z has not won another race, sparingly raced throughout this year, making his fourth start in seven months in the Charles Hussey.

Though he rarely races, COMMANDER Z has clearly shown a preference for the straight course. In four outings since March of this year, COMMANDER Z placed ninth at five furlongs round but was third out the chute on the other three occasions.

Last time out, his second run off a three-month lay-up, COMMANDER Z enjoyed a good lead out the straight as a 6-5 favourite but crumbled inside the final furlong, finishing third behind

BULLETPROOFCOFFEE and rank outsider JOHNCROWJEFF.

However, it should be noted that COMMANDER Z was finishing third behind a 58.2 winner for the second time in four months, having lost to KEM and PRINCE AMAAN when reporting off a two-month break in May.

Though he galloped four furlongs in 47.0 from the gate last Tuesday morning, Spencer Chung has opted to remove the blinkers, which shouldn’t be a problem, considering he had worn no head gear when winning on debut.

Drawn at post-position 11, COMMANDER Z should be the controlling speed with the track bias in his favour. Chung has summoned journeyman Ian Spence, who was jocked off RIDEALLDAY for Saturday’s Mouttet Mile, replaced by American Hall of Famer, Javier Castellano.

Spence wasn’t the happiest trooper after watching RIDEALLDAY win the US$300,000 event by a staggering nine lengths. However, he understands the game, having benefited from Winston Griffiths giving up the 2000 Guineas ride on The Viceroy in 1989.

COMMANDER Z should have Spence smiling again at the end of the Charles Hussey.