Emerging Group 1 star Commanding Jewel was among the 190 nominations for the Group 1 $2m BMW Doncaster Mile (1600m) to be run at Randwick on April 20 when entries closed today.
Commanding Jewel showed her full potential when she took out the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 17 courtesy of a superb ride from Damien Oliver and trainer Leon Corstens is keen to chase more Group 1 glory over the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
“I’d like to aim her at a race like the Coolmore and we’ll nominate her for the Doncaster but she’d have to be going well enough to have a crack at that,” Corstens said.
Corstens will kick off the Commands filly campaign with a 1200m race in Melbourne before heading to Sydney with a possible start in the Group 1 $2m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 20 on the cards.
But the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 23 is firmly on the agenda for the three quarter sister to Mark Kavanagh’s undefeated top class mare Atlantic Jewel.
“I’ll just wait and see what’s around at the time, a nice 1100 or 1200 metre race would suit her first up in Melbourne.”
Caulfield Guineas winner All Too Hard and Anthony’s Cummings’ Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar are other Group 1 winning three year olds nominated coming out of last year’s Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Last year’s Doncaster Mile winner More Joyous heads Gai Waterhouse’s fourteen entries which also includes a host of Tulloch Lodge Group 1 winners including star three year old Pierro.
Pierro failed to win at Group 1 level in the Spring but wasn’t disgraced when second to All Too Hard in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13 and third to Ocean Park in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
Waterhouse’s other Group 1 Doncaster Mile nominations are $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metrolpolitan winner Glencadam Gold, $500,000 The Star Epsom winner Fat Al and $500,000 Flinders Lane Rosehill Guineas victor Laser Hawk as well as the very promising three year old Proisir.
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller is heavily represented with twenty-one nominations including Group 1 winners Albert The Fat, Danleigh, Shoot Out.
Six year old Shoot Out is a consistent Group 1 performer and since running second to More Joyous in last year’s Doncaster Mile has taken out the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the Sydney Spring Carnival.
And the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose winner Epaulette heads Peter Snowden’s Doncaster Mile team.
