Commanding Jewel emerged as one of the country’s most valuable race fillies when she scored a resounding win in today’s Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Given a perfect ride from Damien Oliver, Commanding Jewel sprinted to the lead around a furlong from home and raced clear to win by two and three quarter lengths.
A $205,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Commanding Jewel followed in the hoofsteps of her unbeaten three quarter sister Atlantic Jewel who scored a runaway win in the same race last year.
The win was the fifth in the race for Oliver with the rider glowing in his praise of the blue blooded filly.
“It was nice to draw a good gate with this filly today because she’d had a couple of wide draws and we’ve just had to use her a bit more than we wouldn’t liked.”
“Settling a spot further back she really showed a great kick today.”
“I can’t thank Leon (Corstens, trainer) enough and there wasn’t a better looking horse in the yard.”
“He is having a great run. He is a great trainer and I’d like to thank Leon and all these owners, particularly Brad Spicer, that have stuck by me.”
Corstens was close to tears as he waited for his latest Group One winner to return to scale.
“He rode it unbelievable,” Corstens said of Oliver’s ride. “He rode her to get the mile today and it worked out terrific.”
“Damien is the best rider in Australia so why would I have second thoughts.”
The win continued a golden run for the filly’s yearling sale purchaser and senior part owner Brad Spicer.
“It’s not so much about us, it’s about Leon because he does a great job with these horses and Ollie because there was a lot of pressure during the week.”
“We’ve been watching that horse run extraordinary sectionals at home and we’ve seen what she can do today (when) ridden quietly with a sit.”
“I think it’s just the tip of the iceberg because she will be a really nice filly next time around.”
Having now earned over $400,000 from a handful of starts Commanding Jewel is one of the most valuable fillies on the planet.
She is by Danehill’s group winning sire son Commands and from the Melbourne winning Zabeel mare Regard.
Successful at 1400 and 1600 metres, Regard is a half sister to the Sydney winning and stakes performer Danewin.
Regard tragically died after producing just two foals – what an impact she made in a short time for breeder Greg Perry.
Her first foal, the Fastnet Rock filly, Atlantic Jewel was sold for $320,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
That daughter of Regard has made her presence felt with seven wins from as many starts – a Champion 3YO Filly crown and honour of being the world’s leading 3YO Filly on the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings.
Currently sidelined through injury, Atlantic Jewel has won almost a million dollars and would be worth many times that on the open market.
Winner: Commanding Jewel
Breeding: Commands-Regard (Zabeel)
Race: MRC Thousand Guineas G1 (1600m)
Sold for: $205,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Vinery Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Spicer Thoroughbreds
Earnings: $403,800
Owner(s): B Spicer, Miss D Patton, M Salvo, A Chadwick, J Donegan, G McDonald, Greenwich Stud Pty Ltd Synd, Harry Fyn Synd, Next in Line Synd & Wantok Racing
Trainer: Leon Corstens (Kyneton)
