3 minute read

Gelding provides rookie trainer Neasham with first winner.

Commanding Missile (3 g Smart Missile - Ocean Tempest by Bel Esprit) shed his maiden tag at the first time of asking when he landed the Segenhoe Maiden Handicap (1100m) at Scone on Tuesday and in the process handed Annabel Neasham with her first victory as a trainer. 

The three-year-old gelding gave supporters reason for some concern when shying as he approached the winning post, but eventually came away with a three-quarter length victory over Banju (Benfica), while One Star Shining (Cluster) was the same distance back in third. 

Neasham, who announced she was going out on her own last month, having been assistant trainer to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for two years and she said it was good to get a winner with her first runner. 

"That was pretty good," Neasham told Sky Racing.

"Good ride from Brodie.

"He looked like he was a bit slow away but it probably suited him. He had time to balance up and it's good to get the monkey off the back."

Owned by Josiah Ma, but racing in the Aquis Farm silks - Neasham's main backer - the son of Twin Hills Stud-based sire Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) is out of Listed-placed mare Ocean Tempest (Bel Esprit), who is herself a half-sister to Listed scorer Ruling Dynasty (Medaglia d'Oro) and the dam of fellow Listed winner Ever The Same (Canny Lad). 

The gelding's third dam is Dancing Show (Nijinsky), who produced Group 1 winners Umatilla (Miswaki) and Hurricane Sky (Star Watch), while she is the grandam of Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner and sire Al Maher (Danehill). 

Dancing Show also produced Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) - the dam of Group 1 winners Platinum Scissors (Danehill), Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago), Arrowfield Stud's former champion sire Redoute's Choice (Danehill) and Group 3 winner Sliding Cube (Rock of Gibraltar) - the dam of Schillaci Stakes (Gr 1, 1100m) winner and now Coolmore Stud sire Rubick (Encosta De Lago). 

Ocean Tempest's colt by Hallowed Crown (Street Cry) was purchased by George Osborne for $20,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Goree Stud Reduction, while last year she produced a colt by Your Song (Fastnet Rock) - a three-quarter brother to Commanding Missile and she has most recently covered again by Smart Missile. 

Smart Missile will stand at Twin Hills Stud for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST) in 2020.