Atlantic Jewel Forgoes Spell To Tackle Wakeful Stakes

Atlantic Jewel

Thousand Guineas winner Atlantic Jewel

Thousand Guineas winner Atlantic Jewel has been confirmed as a runner in the $300,000 Wakeful Stakes on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh had originally suggested the three-year-old filly would be immediately spelled, however, changed his mind after she pulled up exceptionally from the race.

“I spoke to Mark this morning and he thinks she has pulled up very well and he wants to go to the Wakeful and then to the Oaks,” part-owner Tom Magnier said.

“He said that he was thinking of spelling her, but that he was happy with the way she has pulled up, and she is going very well so he is happy to keep going on that track.”

While there was rumours Atlantic Jewel’s connections would pay the $130,000 late entry fee for the $3 million Cox Plate, Kavanagh did not see it as a viable option.

“They considered all the options, but Mark (Kavanagh) was not very keen to go for that (Cox Plate) and he is the man who knows the horse better than anyone,” Mangier said.

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“We always leave it up to the trainer as to what he wants to do.”

Following the Wakeful Stakes, Atlantic Jewel could be targeted at the 2,500 metre VRC Crown Oaks.

“She is out of a Zabeel mare which indicates she could go up in distance,” Magnier said.

“Looking at her on type it shows that in time that is what she will be able to do.

“Mark is the man who knows her and he thinks she will be able to do it so that is good enough for me.”

Magnier was excited about the Fastnet Rock filly’s future.

“It is a long time since we have seen a filly this special. She has not put a foot wrong. Mark has been so bullish about her the whole way,” he said.

“The other day at the races he said ‘This filly does things I have never seen fillies do’ and when the trainer says that you know you are onto something special. What she is doing is remarkable.”

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