Thousand Guineas winner Commanding Jewel will be aimed towards a start in the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 because her hoof injury is taking longer than expected to mend.
Commanding Jewel will be set for the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Trainer Leon Corstens had originally expected Commanding Jewel to be fit to run in the rich Melbourne and Sydney Autumn Carnivals but will now concentrate on a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign.
“It’s all turned out OK now, she’s great, back in her box and looks fantastic, but she’ll miss the Melbourne and Sydney autumn carnivals now – I’ll aim her at Brisbane now,” Corstens told Racing Network.
“Why not look at a race like that, she would get in really well at the weights and she’s certainly good enough.”
Commanding Jewel hurt the hoof while spelling after pulling a muscle when she win the Group 2 $220,000 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 7 at her second run back from a lengthy spell because of fetlock problems.
Corstens said that the vets had to make a special cast to fit the hoof and everything now looks to be mending okay, if not as quickly as first anticipated.
The injury plagued Commanding Jewel, a three-quarter sister to glamour mare Atlantic Jewel, showed exceptional potential in the Spring last year winning the 2012 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 when she resumed and after a first up sixth over 1000m at Moonee Valley on August 24 was able to win at Group 2 level over 1400m, the same distance as the Stradbroke Hanidicap.
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.
