There was a time not so long ago when trainer Nick Olive doubted Voice Commander could win over further than a mile.
Then he decided to “roll the dice” and start the gelding in the Frank Underwood Cup over 2000 metres at Rosehill in January and he has not looked back since.
The six-year-old has won three times at 2000 metres including the Listed Frank Underwood and Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup, and on Saturday he will go to uncharted territory again when he steps to 2400 for the first time in the Listed McKell Cup at Rosehill.
“I reckon he’s going as good as ever, he’s probably evolved as a horse and I think we’ve evolved with him in how we train him,” Olive said.
“We’re training him as an out and out stayer now where as before he was kept to shorter races and I didn’t think he would get past a mile (1600m).
“I’m actually really looking forward to seeing him over 2400 metres now because I think he’ll love it.”
Voice Commander has made his mark on the country Cup circuit in recent outings winning the Gundagai Cup (1800m), Queanbeyan Cup (2000m) and Wagga Cup (2000m) at his past three starts.
He will carry top weight of 58.5kg in the McKell Cup with Kathy O’Hara to ride.
O’Hara rode Voice Commander for the first time to an all-the-way win in the Frank Underwood and her five rides on the son of Commands have netted two Listed victories.
Olive said Voice Commander was a definite starter despite having to carry at least two kilograms more than any of his rivals.
Indikator and Newport have been given 56.5kg, Beijing Boy has 55kg, Roi D’Jeu 53.5kg, and the remaining 10 nominations are on the 53kg limit.
“He’s carrying two kilograms more than anything else but has shown before that he can carry weight,” Olive said.
“It’s a test but it doesn’t scare me out of running him.”
The Canberra-based trainer has been amazed at how well Voice Commander has come through his Wagga assignment, where he held off World Wide to win the $140,000 feature by a nose in a thrilling finish.
“Winning the Wagga Cup was a great thrill and I thought he would be a bit jaded after the run because he really left nothing out there,” Olive said.
“But he’s probably done better since that run than any after any other run this campaign.”
AAP TURF
