Atlantic Jewel Returns To The Winners Circle In The Caulfield Stakes

Glamour mare Atlantic Jewel is back on track for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) after recording a comfortable victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes(2000m) at Caulfield this afternoon.

Atlantic Jewel bounced back to her best with the easiest of wins in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes this afternoon.

Atlantic Jewel bounced back to her best with the easiest of wins in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes this afternoon. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The race was run in single file at a fairly slow tempo; with Spacecraft leading from Lloyd Williams-owned Massiyn, Super Cool, Atlantic Jewel and Foreteller.

Atlantic Jewel came around the outside of the field as the field came around the final bend and effortlessly went to the lead with 200 metres left to run before racing away to record an incredibly easy win from Chris Waller-trained Foreteller and stablemate Super Cool.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh was full of nerves heading into the race but said that everything went to the plan during the run.

“I thought that it would be a bit of a tactical nightmare but it just went to script didn’t it,” Kavanagh said.

“She just left them behind like she can and it was a good effort.”

Atlantic Jewel will now head to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in a fortnights time and Kavanagh said that he was pleased that she had returned to her best form heading into the $3 million Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship.

“There were certain things the other day that didn’t go our way but she is right back to her best now,” Kavanagh said.

“I am quite happy with where she is right now and I will tune her right up now and she will be spot-on for the Cox Plate.

“I have the good hand in my pocket right now.”

Jockey Michael Rodd convinced Kavanagh before the Caulfield Stakes that Atlantic Jewel should be positioned towards the tail of the field and said that he was delighted with the way the five-year-old mare ran out the 2000 metres after her staying credentials were questioned following her defeat in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

“She was probably not out of form ever but we just had to make sure that she ran out the 2000 metres strong,” Rodd said after the race.

“I spoke to Kav after the barriers came out and I said there was only one place for us and that is out the back.

“I know that everybody is going to look at that and say that it wasn’t a truly run race but it was a nice hit-out for her into the Cox Plate.

“She has taken a lot of improvement from the Underwood, she looked a little bit slimmer today under saddle, and she was a lot more relaxed.

“It was really good that she could relax like that and obviously that turn-of-foot at the end that she has got.

“I gave her a couple of hits so that she would run through the line and she is going to be hard-fit for Cox Plate Day.”

Makybe Diva Stakes winner Foreteller returned to his best form after finishing last in the Underwood Stakes, running home strongly in the final stages of the race, and is expected to head towards the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 2, while Kavanagh said he is yet to made a decision on the next race start for third placegetter Super Cool.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.