Trainer Leon Corstens has revealed he will allow the results of a Cranbourne barrier trial this week dictate whether or not talented mare Commanding Jewel is ready for a tilt at Group 1 success over the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
Trainer Leon Corstens will allow a barrier trial determine a Tattersall's Tiara berth for Commanding Jewel. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Injury prone since debuting on track in the spring of 2012, Commanding Jewel has contested just seven competitive races; claiming impressive victories in four and minor places in a further two.
Geared towards a return in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse on June 21st, Corstens told AAP he is hoping the Commands mare will continue to build in form on strength this week after a successful light hit-out at Seymour two weeks ago.
“She has been quite a problem” Corstens said.
“She tore off half her foot in a paddock accident and it took a long time to heal.
“We gave her a jump-out at Seymour a couple of weeks ago and she has come through that well so we are hoping to get her to Queensland for the mares’ race.”
Producing an impressive maiden racing preparation throughout the spring of 2012, Commanding Jewel claimed back-to-back victories on debut before finishing an unlucky second to Lady Of Harrods in the Group 3 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) in just her third race start.
Continuing to build in class and experience, the four-year-old out of Regard charged from the rear of the field in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) before breaking through for a maiden victory at the highest level of Australian racing in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m); beating a classy field by nearly three lengths.
Returning to racing in the 2013 spring, Commanding Jewel finished sixth in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) first-up and comfortably won the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) of September 7th before being forced from the track with a high muscle tear in her hindquarters.
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