Monday, 11 February 2019: The lasting influence of the late sire Commands was evident on Saturday when his progeny landed a Group One double in Australia and New Zealand.

Commands, by Danehill, died at Darley’s Kelvinside Stud in Australia in 2014 but still holds a prominent place on the current Australian premiership with 35 winners of 53 races this season led by his newest G1 winner Manuel.
The Tony McEvoy-trained Manuel  became the 12th G1 winner for Commands when he upset a crack field in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
He was the second leg of a double at the elite level for the deceased sire after his outstanding daughter Melody Belle  recorded her fourth G1 win in the BCD Sprint at Waikato in New Zealand.

Manuel lands the CF Orr Stakes

MANUEL (Commands x Girl Hussler by Hussonet) was a $240,000 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing at the 2015 Easter Yearling Sale where he was offered by Segenhoe Stud.
His dam Girl Hussler is a prized member of the Segenhoe Stud broodmare band
A Listed winner and G3 placed, Girl Hussler has had four foals to race for four winners including the G3 winner and G1 placed Taking Aim (Choisir), stakes placed Witherspoon (Exceed And Excel) and last week’s impressive 2YO debut winner Sun Patch (Exceed And Excel).
Taking Aim is now racing in Hong Kong where he is a two-time winner.
The family also includes the G1 placed Clever Zoe (Pompeii Court) and South African Group winners Hancock Park (Pompeii Court) and her daughter Park Lane (Elliodor).
Girl Hussler was purchased by Bill Mitchell and Royston Murphy for Segenhoe owners Kevin and Lesley Maloney shortly after they purchased the Hunter Valley stud farm in 2010.
"She is a one in a million mare,” said Segenhoe general manager Peter O’Brien.
"She's not a big mare. She's a typical Hussonet, quite short coupled with beautiful quality.
“The Hussonet mares are particularly good outcrosses for Danehill-line stallions.”
Segenhoe has sold four of Girl Hussler’s yearlings with the quartet averaging a sale price of $515,000.
Manuel has been the cheapest at $240,000. Taking Aim was sold to China Horse Club for $520,000 in 2016, Witherspoon made $500,000 when purchased by Jadeskye Racing in 2017 and Sun Patch was sold to Hong Kong-based George Moore for $800,000 in 2018.
Breakfast In Bed, another Hussonet mare owned by Segenhoe, is the dam of the Redoute's Choice colt who made the top price of $1.4 million at last month’s Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale.
Girl Hussler has a current yearling filly by Fastnet Rock that will be retained by Segenhoe. She produced a colt foal by Snitzel last spring.

Melody Belle wins at Te Rapa

MELODY BELLE (Commands x Meleka Belle by Iffraaj) has now won nine of her 18 starts including four Group Ones and over $NZ1.38 million prizemoney.
She races for the Fortuna Melody Belle syndicate after being purchased for $NZ57,500 by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2016 NZB National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Melody Belle  is the sole winner from her dam Meleka Belle, a half-sister to four black type performers including G1 placed Tsarina Belle (Stravinsky).
Her second dam was the three-time winner Empress Belle (Sir Tristram), a sister to the stakes placed Chelsworth (Sir Tristram).
Melody Belle’s major wins include the Karaka Million, G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and G1 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes in Brisbane as a 2YO and the G1 Tarzino Trophy last spring.