Commanding Jewel Wins Let's Elope Stakes
- Saturday, 13 September 2014 08:20
A shot at the Cox Plate is one step closer for top mare Commanding Jewel after she became the first dual winner of the Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington.
In just her second start since winning the Group Two race for mares last year, Commanding Jewel, the $2.60 favourite, overcame a three-wide run to hold off the fast-finishing Dear Demi by a short neck on Saturday.
Nautical came in another neck away third.
Trainer Troy Corstens said it was great to see the three-quarter sister to Atlantic Jewel show she was on target for a crack at the Cox Plate.
"She needed to run like that today to warrant pushing on to a Cox Plate so it's good to get that out of the way," Corstens said.
The plan for Commanding Jewel is to go to the Rupert Clarke Stakes, Toorak Handicap and then the Cox Plate.
"It's full steam ahead," Corstens said.
Damien Oliver weighed in 400gms under his alloted weight but the rules allow for a 0.5kg leeway and correct weight was declared.
Commanding Jewel, the 2012 Group One Thousand Guineas winner, has been restricted to just nine starts because of setbacks.
A paddock injury after last year's spring carnival forced her to spend plenty of time on the sidelines and put her race career in some doubt.
"It was touch and go there for a while," Corstens said.
"She had a nasty split on her hoof, it was really bad.
"A stack of work went into her, but when you get one this good it's always worthwhile."
Oliver said he had no choice but to sit three wide near the speed but felt it wasn't too much of a disadvantage with the pace slow.
"She's in for a good spring," Oliver said.
Dear Demi appears to be on target for her major spring aims, finishing strongly under Jim Cassidy who was delighted with the mare's performance.
"They went a bit slow early, but she finished off nicely," Cassidy said.
