Bold Striding four year old Fighter Command (Always B Miki) indicated that he is returning to the form that he displayed from his younger days when he comprehensively defeated his harness racing rivals in the Nevele R Stud pace at Melton on Saturday night.

Clearly the class runner of the field Fighter Command was returning from an unsuccessful stint at Menangle Park after copping severe intereference in the Paleface Adios stakes.

FIGHTER COMMAND APR 12 REPLAY

From the outside of the second row driver Greg Sugars allowed Fighter Command time to settle down before setting off three wide to eventually race outside the leader Repelling. Critically he didn’t have to do too much work to get there and he always looked as if he had the race in his keeping even when he went to a narrow lead on straightening.

Showing a touch of class Fighter Command drew clear to easily hold off Smokin Ace and Repelling. And this was after running his last quarter in 26.7 seconds after doing all the work.

Greg Sugars was certainly a relieved man after the event.

“He’s feeling himself at the moment. We thought we were going to lose him. We had no idea if he would come back at all. And if he did come back would he be the same horse but the early signs are pretty good.”

“He felt a million dollars once they settled and the lead time wasn’t excessive. So I thought we’ll put him in the race. I wasn’t really confident that’s not what I wanted to do pre race. Once I got there he always felt he had the race in his keeping.”

As a three year old Figher Command won the Beautide at Hobart and then his win at Melton a few weeks later put him in contention for the Eureka at Menangle.

However Fighter Command was suddenly afflicted with a twisted intestine and his future was decidedly uncertain.

But as Sugars indicated it looks as if Fighter Command is making a serious return to the race track and it is certainly a testament to both him and his partner trainer Jesse Tubbs to get him competitive again on the circuit.

The gelding is still relatively lightly raced with ten wins from fifteen appearances. Understandably it may be premature to start planning big races for Fighter Command but it surely would be a fitting scenario if he gets another crack at the Eureka when last year he was cruelly denied that chance.

Sugars and Jesse Tubbs scored a double when in the next race their handy mare Rakero Rebel (Rock N Roll Heaven) finished strongly to narrowly oust the inform Yambukian in the CNC Router Bids Free For All.

Rakero Rebel will be Sydney bound for the $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Mile at Menangle Park on 10 May and there’s every chance she will join the stable on their Queensland visit mid year and its possible she may contest the Inter Dominion.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink