COMMANDING SPIRIT. 26 April 2012. Presenting-Park Athlete. Owner-Mrs Jennifer Hill & Mrs Samantha Toomes.
Commanding Spirit is an eight year old gelding, by the prolific sire of jumpers, Presenting, out of an unraced Supreme Leader mare, who has had eight racecourse representatives to date, including the 140 rated Vieux Lille, and the 129 rated Bon Accord.
Commanding Spirit started his racing career in the care of Jonjo O'Neill, in bumper company at Towcester in May 2016, as a four year old when finishing midfield. His next appearance was at Worcester in October, when he made his hurdles debut, but finished well down the field, in four further attempts over hurdles he could never get involved, including on his final start for Jonjo, which was also his handicap debut, from a mark of 98, in April 2017, at Huntingdon.
Commanding Spirit was on the move after that, to go point to pointing in Ireland, racing for the yard of Peter Flood.He reappeared at Knockinroe in November 2017, finishing second in heavy ground, this was followed by two more runners up efforts, before getting off the mark at Kirkistown in February 2018, winning by 25 lengths, after being left well clear at the last. He raced in a further four points, placing twice more, achieving a record of one win, five second placings, and a third spot finish, from nine starts.
Commanding Spirit arrived at Oakwood Stables in the Spring of 2019, making his rules debut over fences at Hexham in October, a full 17 months after his last race, he finished well down the field. At Wetherby in December he fell at the eighth, and back at the same venue on Boxing Day he blundered his chance away, and pulled up at the third last.His final race of the season was also back at the West Yorkshire track, where once again it was a similar story, but this time over hurdles.
Commanding Spirit made his seasonal debut at Hexham in September, completing his race, finishing seventh of the 14 runners, but beaten 32 lengths, it was his first race in 10 months, so was entitled to need it.If we can get Commanding Spirit back to the best of his point to point form, then from a mark of only 78 over fences, we might get a win or two out of him.