Atlantic Jewel given the all clear

A steady as she goes approach is what trainer Mark Kavanagh will adopt for Atlantic Jewel after the top class mare was given the all clear to resume work after recovering from a tendon injury.

Atlantic Jewel

Atlantic Jewel has been given the all clear to resume work. Photo by: Steve Hart

Kavanagh will ease Atlantic Jewel back into work with a Spring Carnival comeback on the cards if the four year old comes through her rehabilitation in good order.

“We are looking at the spring and at this stage she wouldn’t run before then, but she’s a work in progress,” Kavanagh said.

“She was scanned last Monday and I am happy with her progress.”

“I will bring her back into the stables in a few weeks and she’ll do some work. It’ll just be great to see her back in training.”

Kavanagh is mindful of the hard work ahead to nurse Atlantic Jewel back to the high level she reached over her short career to date which sees her undefeated from seven starts including two Group 1 victories and a bank balance of over $900,000.

“Anything and everything to do with the injury will be taken into account. At this stage the tendon has healed well,” Kavanagh said.

“She’ll go to the water walkers, come into the stables and then be eased up. She’ll just go back and forth as the tendon is strengthened up.”

Atlantic Jewel gained the attention of Australian racegoers with a three lengths victory in the 2011 Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 before a seven lengths runaway win in the Group 2 $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington just over two weeks later.

But Atlantic Jewel missed a start in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington the following week because of soreness and Kavanagh put her away before preparing her for the Autumn.

Kavangah’s plan of a light Autumn program worked perfectly with Atlantic Jewel maintaining her unbeaten record with wins in the 2012 Group 2 $175,000 Yellowglen Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 14 and the Group 1 $400,000 Ticketek All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 28.

The Melbourne Cup winning trainer then spelled Atlantic Jewel with the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October high on the radar but her Spring plans were cancelled when she injured her off-fore tendon in August before getting to the racetrack.

Kavanagh hasn’t yet mapped out a Spring program for the Fastnet Rock mare but no doubt the Cox Plate will be high on the agenda again.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.