Atlantic Jewel, making her first start in 16 months, finished with her
perfect record intact and her reputation enhanced in Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie
at Caulfield. Showing no signs of rust, the Mark Kavanagh trainee dispatched a
strong field of males with ease and strode clear impressively.
An A$320,000 yearling acquisition by Demi O’Byrne at the 2010 Magic Millions
Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Atlantic Jewel did not appear on the racetrack until
her three-year-old season, but she quickly made up for lost time, taking the
2011 Caulfield One Thousand Guineas over the smart Mosheen in her fourth outing.
Adding the Wakeful Stakes two weeks later, Atlantic Jewel took a much-earned
spell before returning to lift the Sapphire and All Aged Stakes at Randwick in
April 2012 en route to champion three-year-old filly honors.
Injury kept the imposing bay from the racetrack for 16 months thereafter, but
the champion signaled she may be better than ever on Saturday. Taking up a
stalking position through the early stages, Atlantic Jewel was hung four-wide on
the turn, but shrugged off that inconvenience, charging to the lead under a
Michael Rodd hand ride and crossing the wire, eased down, a 2 1/4-length winner.
“It’s just a relief to get her back from such a long time off,” Rodd told
racenet.com.au. “We
know she’s got the engine there. I just had to keep her out of trouble.
“I was kind to her because she’s had a bit of time off and (Kavanagh) would
have got up me a bit if I had ridden her out. I had to be a little bit careful,
but it’s a relief more than anything that her campaign is on track.”
Ferlax finished second, edging Super Cool and It’s a Dundeel. Reigning
Melbourne Cup hero Green Moon checked in fifth.
Atlantic Jewel is expected to target the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley
October 26, for which she is one of the early favorites.
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