Trainer Leon Corstens has revealed that classy mare Commanding Jewel will miss the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival after failing to recover in time from a nasty hoof injury.
Commanding Jewel will not return to the races until the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Commanding Jewel had her 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign prematurely ended by a deep cut in her hoof and managing co-owner Brad Spicer was hopeful that the three quarter sister to Atlantic Jewel would be able to return to racing in the autumn in order to contest races like the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens at the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Corstens told TVN that Commanding Jewel was recovering well from the hoof issue but confirmed that she would not be ready to compete at the highest level of racing in either Melbourne or Sydney this autumn.
“It was really quite nasty right near the coronet band,” Corstens said.
“We had to get a special plaster cast made to protect the foot and make sure everything grew back the right way,” he added.
“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.”
Corstens will now set Commanding Jewel for a winter campaign in Brisbane; with the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on top of the agenda for the daughter of Commands, while she could also be suited by a race like the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).
“I’ll aim her at Brisbane now,” Corstens said.
“Why not look at a race like that (the Stradbroke Handicap), she would get in really well at the weights and she’s certainly good enough.”
Commanding Jewel has been restricted to just seven career starts; with injuries ruling her out of the 2013 Autumn Racing Carnival and ending her recent spring campaign after only two starts.
The four-year-old made her racing debut with a victory as an almost unbackable favourite at Swan Hill in August of 2012 before taking out the Mitchelton Wines Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley just two weeks later.
She was beaten as a short-priced favourite in both the Group 3 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) and Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) but returned to her best form with an impressive three lengths win over Dear Demi and Zydeco in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
After a lengthy lay-off, Commanding Jewel returned to the races with a sixth place finish behind Broken in the Carlyon Stakes (1000m) but improved significantly when stepped up in distance to take out the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m).
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