A maiden win at Mornington may just be the spark At Your Command needs to take a bigger step in his racing career.
At Your Command was a long-shot winner of the Priority Printing Plate at Monday’s metropolitan class meeting.
Frank Salanitri, stable spokesman for his trainer-brother John, said the penny had not yet dropped with the gelding.
Ridden by Stephen Baster, At Your Command ($31) scored by a short half head from Artie Fred ($6.50) with first-starter Coronation Lance ($31) another two lengths away third.
At Your Command is out of Make A Stand who was the winner of five races between 1000 and 1500 metres for the Salanitri stable.
“Today we were hoping to settle him a little further back and let him find his feet and finish off, but he was ridden a little closer than anticipated,” Salanitri said.
“He’s out of a good mare and we’ve been expecting him to show more than what he has but he’s still a kid and he’s going to be better next preparation.”
Salanitri said he expected At Your Command to appreciate a trip longer than the 1200m he was successful over on Monday.
Baster said At Your Command was still six months months away from reaching his full potential and lost concentration in the straight.
“He’s a nice horse but he’s still learning,” Baster said.
“He was star gazing coming up the straight but once he gets that out of the way I think he’ll win better races.”
