First Command showed he was on track for an exciting spring campaign when he resumed with a stylish win at Caulfield this afternoon.

The five-year-old Commands gelding is likely to have two or three runs during the spring before trainer Lee Freedman sets him for New Zealand’s richest sprint.

“He ran terrific in Queensland in the Lightning first up,”  Freedman said. “And then his run against Hay List up there was really poor.”

“He just wasn’t the right horse. We couldn’t really find a lot (wrong) with him but I’m sure he was hurting somewhere.”

“He came back and just back in his home environment the horse has come good.”

“There was sufficient speed in (today’s) race that he was going to get a nice trail.”

“You wanted to be on him a long way from home really.”

“He’s a top class sprinter without being right at the top of the tree,” he added.

“I think I’ll be dodging horses like Hay List and that but he’s certainly up to the good Group Twos and possibly a trip to New Zealand for the good sprint over there.”

“I don’t want to give him a big (spring) prep,” Freedman noted. “Basically Queensland was about keep the horse busy during the winter and not having too long off for an older horse.”

“The objective is to probably give him three runs this prep and then freshen up for New Zealand.”

First Command looks set to run in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint on Caulfield Cup Day (October 16) prior to the Group Two Salinger Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day (October 30).

The Group One double of the Railway and Telegraph in New Zealand would be likely goals for First Command early in the 2011.

First Command ($4.60-$7) raced clear over the concluding stages and at the post he held a length and a half margin over the runner-up Acquired ($18-$21).

Last start stakes winner Dissolved ($8.50-$10-$9.50) nabbed the favourite Definitely Ready ($2.10-$1.85 fav) for third, another length back.

By Commands, First Command is turning out a great value buy for connections following his purchase from Baramul Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

His $170,000 yearling sale pricetag has been well and truly eclipsed by his earnings which now sit at an impressive $409,401.

First Command’s record is an impressive one – eight wins and two second placings from just 13 starts.

A half brother to First Command by outstanding Coolmore Stud sire Encosta de Lago is being prepared by Baramul Stud for January’s 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“He’s a lovely colt,” Magic Millions Bloodstock Consultant Tony Williams said. “He has a lot of quality.”

“The mare always throws a lovely type and this colt is very good,” Williams added.

River Serenade, the dam of First Command, is a full sister to Group One winner River Dove and importantly is also the dam of the gun Hong Kong sprinter One World.

Meanwhile, the Baramul Stud homebred Aloha was also a winner on today’s card – for Mick Price and Damien Oliver.

The four-year-old Encosta de Lago mare, a proven group performer, is unbeaten this preparation and will be set for black type races over the spring carnival.

A half brother to Aloha by champion two-year-old sire More Than Ready is also being prepared for the famous Gold Coast auction.