Commanding Jewel Nears Return After Lengthy Spell

A return to racing for Commanding Jewel is just around the corner with the 2012 Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner set to trial before the end of July.

Atlantic Jewel is nearing a return to the races for the first time since her Thousand Guineas victory. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Commanding Jewel was spelled after her maiden Group 1 victory in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in October so she could be saved for the 2013 Autumn Racing Carnival but suffered a joint injury as she began her preparation and missed the entire Carnival.

Managing co-owner Brad Spicer said the Commands filly has impressed since returning to work at the property of trainer Leon Corstens and he believes the joint injury that kept her out of the autumn is no longer a factor.

“She’s only three or four weeks away from a little trial, but we are really pleased with her,” Spicer told TVN.

“She has come back bigger and stronger; from the autumn she has put one between forty and fifty kilos and has really thickened up.

“There was no structural damage; the prognosis is 100 percent going forward.”

Spicer said that Commanding Jewel has plenty of options for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival with the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship Cox Plate (2040m) – where she could meet undefeated half-sister Atlantic Jewel – the ultimate target while the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Myer Classic (1600m) could also be added to the agenda.

The rising four-year-old  finally lived up to her potential when winning the Thousand Guineas after getting beaten as a short priced favourite in both the Group 3 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) and Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) earlier in the spring.

Regular jockey Damien Oliver, who has never won the Cox Plate, has been booked to ride Commanding Jewel after he returns from suspension next week.

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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.