Mark Kavanagh’s scintillating filly Atlantic Jewel will head to the spelling paddock undefeated but won’t get the chance to go out a dual Group 1 winner, the talented three-year-old found to have pulled a hamstring and subsequently withdrawn from Thursday’s 2011 Crown Oaks.
Fastnet Rock three-year-old Atlantic Jewel took her stunning career record to five wins from as many starts on Saturday’s Victoria Derby Day defeating a quality field of fellow fillies by an overwhelming seven lengths in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Atlantic Jewel has been withdrawn from the 2011 Crown Oaks with a leg injury
Having already saluted in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12, Atlantic Jewel was set to have her spring grand final in the $1 million Group 1 VRC Crown Oaks (2500m) back at Flemington on Thursday November 3.
Prior to the Wakeful Atlantic Jewel was already the odds-on Crown Oaks favourite at Luxbet sitting at a quote of around $1.30 to salute in her second elite level.
In a bitter blow for connections, however, Atlantic Jewel pulled a hamstring during her Wakeful Stakes victory and will be spelled immediately.
Kavanagh originally wanted to spell Atlantic Jewel directly after the Thousand Guineas as she was so lightly raced and boasted so much potential he wanted to save her for the autumn.
Her owners at Coolmore, however, wanted to press on with her onto the Wakeful and then the Crown Oaks.
Graeme Rogerson’s consistent Savabeel filly from New Zealand, Dowager Queen, is expected to be installed as the new top elect in the Crown Oaks odds at Luxbet following Atlantic Jewel’s withdrawal.
Dowager Queen finished seven and a half lengths away third to Atlantic Jewel in the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday, with Leon Corsten’s Zabeel filly Rahveel the eye-catching runner-up who is also set to be crunched in the Crown Oaks betting markets.
The official 2011 Crown Oaks final field and barrier draw will be released on Monday morning and published right here at Races.com.au.
With Atlantic Jewel out, the Crown Oaks becomes a much more open affair giving Luxbet punters more value to select from.
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