Long Time Cox Plate favourite Atlantic Jewel retired

Long time Cox Plate favourite Atlantic Jewel has been officially retired and will be sent to Coolmore’s highly rated world class stallion Galileo in Ireland.

Atlantic Jewel winning her final race, the G1 Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield.

Atlantic Jewel winning her final race, the G1 Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh had to scratch Atlantic Jewel from the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday  after the glamour mare suffered another tendon injury following her track work session on Tuesday morning at Flemington.

Shortly after the Fastnet Rock mare draw barrier seven in the 2013 Cox Plate field, Kavanagh informed Racing Victoria stewards she would not be taking her place in the Australasian weight for age championship at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

After digesting the situation, Michael Kirwan, general manager of Coolmore Australia broke the news that Atlantic Jewel would be retired and sent to Ireland to mate with Galileo during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season.

“We’ve decided this is the time to retire so that’s what we’re doing,” Kirwan told Sky Sports radio.

“It’s a very difficult decision but it’s not a hard one. You have to make it. That’s it.

“She’ll do thirty days quarantine here at Coolmore before she leaves for Ireland, which will probably be in December. She will be served by Galileo in February.”

Atlantic Jewel only tasted defeat once from her eleven starts when beaten a nose by the new 2013 Cox Plate favourite It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21 and amassed over $1.5 million in prizemoney.

All looked good for Atlantic Jewel after Kavanagh had nursed her back to peak racing condition after the mare had spent sixteen months on the sideline as a result of an injury to her other tendon.

Kavanagh was able to get her to win first up over 1400m in the Group 1 $350,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31 before winning the Group 2 $220,000 Top Cut Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 14.

Atlantic Jewel has gone out on a winning note with a finale four length victory in the Group 1 $400,000 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12.

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.