One of two two-year-olds to take on 11 three-year-old in Saturday's $100,000 Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Saturday, the Commands colt Bandipur provided Godolphin with some much-needed good news.
Ridden by Dom Tourneur, Bandipur hit the line strongly to defeat Arkham Knight (
The other 2yo in the race, the Team Hawkes-trained Ducimus (Snitzel) started favourite under Tommy Berry but could do no better than fifth.
Making his fourth start, Bandipur finished seventh
Given a spell he resumed with an eight length win at Moe on June 24 before beating all bar I Did It Again at Caulfield on July 15.
The James Cummings-trained colt is the first foal of the 3-time winning Viscount mare Pattamada who was culled by Darley in 2016 when she was sold to Monovale Holdings for $21,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling sale when carrying a filly by Commands' Group I winning son Epaulette.
Pattamada is a sister to Group I Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Neroli out of the 4-time Sydney winner Dalquarren a half-sister to the stakes-placed Hut the dam of Group I TJ Smith Classic winner Benfica (Lonhro).
Now at stud in New Zealand, Pattamada was covered by Proisir last spring.
She was one of 161 mares that visited Commands in his final season in 2013.
Bandipur becomes the 74th stakes winner for the son of Danehill.