Atlantic Jewel all clear to race

Trainer Mark Kavanagh will take baby steps in order to get star filly Atlantic Jewel back to the race track.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock was given the all clear to resume training after tests revealed no structural damage from a back injury.

Undefeated in five starts, the three-year-old won the Group 1 2011 Caulfield 1000 Guineas (1600m) at just her fourth start.

She the donkey-licked the Group 2 2011 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) during the Flemington Spring Carnival to the tune of seven lengths when the $1.26 favourite.

She was due to start shorter odds in the 2011  Crown Oaks but plans were aborted with injury discovered a day after the Wakeful Stakes.

Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michael Rodd described Atlantic Jewel as one of the best three-year-olds he has ridden.

“She’s up the top, if not the best I’ve ridden,” he said.

Kavanagh is looking at a Sydney autumn campaign as the earliest possible time Atlantic Jewel could resume but no firm plans  have been made.

“We have no special targets in mind at this stage,” Kavanagh said.

“That will be discussed after we get an idea on how she does in her first couple of weeks’ pre-training.

“There has been an injury there, but it is well enough to say that she can go back into work.”

The filly will start her pre-training by spending a month on a water-walker.

“If she’s OK after doing time on the water-walker she will come into the Flemington stables,” Kavanagh said.

“But if she shows sign of having one hair out of place we will be waiting for the spring with her.”

Atlantic Jewel was bred by Greg Perry and sold through the draft of Vinery Stud at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She was purchased for $320,000 by Demi O’Byrne for Coolmore Stud and has now earned over $576,000.

Her dam Regard won two races at 1400 and 1600 metres and hails from the family of international Group One winners Pass the Peace, Embassy and King’s Apostle.

Given good health, many have Atlantic Jewel as the top of the list for the 2012 Cox Plate (2040m), Australia’s weight-for-age championship in October.

 

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