Champion mare Atlantic Jewel rounded off her Cox Plate preparation with a stunning four length win in Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Stakes (2000m).
Second last for much of the race, the daughter of Fastnet Rock produced a strong sprint from just before to turn to reel in the leaders and the race to the lead.
At the post the mare held a four length margin over recent Group One winner Foreteller, while the winner’s stablemate and reigning Australian Cup winner Super Cool was a length further back third.
The mare, a $320,000 purchase for her connections from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, has now earned over $1.58 million.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh now has his eyes firmly set on the mare’s major goal of the WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday week.
“That’s how you want to see them win and she cantered away from them by a good space and a good turn of foot,” Kavanagh said.
“I’m happy and everything is back on track now.”
“I’m quite happy with her she is right now. This should tune her up now, we had a little bit of improvement but she should be spot on for the Cox Plate.”
Beaten by a breath at her previous start after leading, Atlantic Jewel relished settling off the speed and coming with her usual stunning sprint. Her four length win was arrogant.
The outstanding five-year-old is a clear favourite for the Cox Plate as she attempts to round out a spring by winning the Southern Hemisphere’s weight for age championship.
Bred by Greg Perry and sold by Vinery Stud, Atlantic Jewel is just one of two foals produced by the Zabeel mare Regard – a Melbourne winner.
A half sister to the James HB Carr Stakes placegetter Shaan, Regard was sold carrying Atlantic Jewel for $340,000 to Steve Brem at the 2008 National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.
She was earlier purchased as a yearling by her trainer Graeme Rogerson for $235,000 from the Emirates Park draft at the 2004 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Regard’s dam in turn, Nanshan, was the top priced lot of the Torryburn Stud Dispersal at the National Broodmare Sale in 2002 when sold to Emirates Park for $425,000 when in foal to Zabeel.
Commanding Jewel, the only other foal produced by Regard before her tragic passing, was sold at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $205,000 to Brad Spicer and she won last year’s Group One Thousand Guineas and is a four time winner and earner of over $540,000.
Winner: Atlantic Jewel
Breeding: Fastnet Rock-Regard (Zabeel)
Race: MRC Caulfield Stakes G1 (2000m)
Sold for: $320,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Vinery Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Demi O’Byrne
Earnings: $1,587,925
Owner(s): Coolmore Syndicate (Mgr: Mrs S Magnier), LM Macri, MJ Kirwan, Ms M Texier, C Murphy, MV Magnier & DL O’Byrne
Trainer: Mark Kavanagh (Flemington)
