Trainer Leon Cortsens has lost his battle to get Commanding Jewel back to the track for the remainder of the Spring Carnival and has sent the Thousand Guineas winner back to the paddock.
Commanding Jewel will be sent back to the paddock, will miss the rest of the Spring. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Corstens was playing catch up with the Group 1 winning mare after she damaged a muscle in her near side hind leg after winning the Group 2 $220,000 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 7 and will now focus on next year’s Autumn Carnival.
“She pulled a muscle in the near-side hind leg, up high, and we’ve decided to put her out rather than go on this preparation,” Corstens told Racing Network.
“We could have persevered with her and tried to get another run out of her, but if we had got it wrong, and made it worse, then we would have missed the autumn as well.”
“This way four weeks in the paddock and she can come back, muscle problem solved, and we can prepare her for a full campaign in the autumn.”
Commanding Jewel, a three-quarter sister to glamour mare Atlantic Jewel, showed exceptional potential in the Spring last year winning the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield but was forced off the scene for almost a year after developing joint problems.
The Commands mare was quick to get back into the winner’s circle and after a first up sixth over 1000m at Moonee Valley was able to win at Group 2 level last start.
Corstens had been hoping to patch her up to run in the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) on Caulfield Guineas day, but will concentrate on the Autumn races.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine after a short break,” Corstens said.
“With a mare as valuable as her you can’t take chances, so this is clearly the most responsible thing to do.
“It’s the least of my worries her not coming back.
“I’m sure her autumn campaign will be fine.”
Commanding Jewel has won four from seven starts and as well as being a Group 1 winner, has earned over half a million dollars in prizemoney for her owners.
