Managing co-owner Brad Spicer has revealed that Commanding Jewel remains an outside chance of returning to the races in the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 7.
Commanding Jewel was sent to the spelling paddock after scoring an impressive win in the Let's Elope Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Commanding Jewel has not been seen at the races since she scored a narrow win over Catkins and A Time For Julia in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 7 during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but moved closer to a return to racing with an impressive three lengths victory in a jump out over 800 metres at Seymour last Friday.
It was reported that Commanding Jewel would make her return to racing in the Group 1 Tattersalls Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 21, but Spicer told TVN that connections had not ruled out a tilt at the $1.36 million Stradbroke Handicap for the four-year-old and will make their final plans after she is ridden by jockey Damien Oliver in another trial next weekend.
“The Stradbroke is still there and she is maybe a 15 per cent chance,” Spicer said.
“We’ll take a lot from what Damien tells us.
“Her trial last week was pretty impressive.”
Commanding Jewel is a three-quarters sister to retired glamour mare Atlantic Jewel and much was expected of the daughter of Commands during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival after she started her racing career with strong wins in the Heart Of The Murray Plate (975m) at Swan Hill on August 13 and the Mitchelton Wines Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 25.
The filly suffered her first defeat when she was narrowly beaten by Lady Of Harrods in the Group 3 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield and her odds for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1610m) drifted significantly after she was beaten by Maybe Discreet and Members Joy in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) at Flemington on October 6.
Commanding Jewel started the 2012 Thousand Guineas at odds of $9, but was given a gem of a ride by Damien Oliver before racing away from the rest of the field to score a dominant three lengths win from Dear Demi and Zydeco.
A joint injury ruled Commanding Jewel out of the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and she was sent to the spelling paddock following her Let’s Elope Stakes victory after suffering a back injury.
Commanding Jewel is currently available at 2014 Stradbroke Handicap odds of $14 with Ladbrokes Australia.
