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12 months ago a rising star named Atlantic Jewel captured the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas at Caulfield and on Wednesday we saw her three-quarter sister Commanding Jewel do exactly the same thing.
Prepared by Leon Corstens, Commanding Jewel is still in her first preparation and was tackling Group I company at just her fifth race start, but the daughter of Commands rose to the challenge to post her first Black Type success.
Ridden more quietly than in previous starts after drawing a good gate, Commanding Jewel (pictured Racepix Vic) settled beautifully for Damien Oliver and ran out the 1600 metres strongly to charge clear and win by a dominant three lengths from seasoned Sydney stakes campaigner Dear Demi.
"It's great… terrific," declared Leon Corstens, who elected to stick by Damien Oliver, despite the current controversy surrounding the champion rider.
"We never had a second thought about it. Damien is the best rider in Australia and he knows the filly. It would have been stupid to take him off."
Commanding Jewel has made a swift progression through the grades, winning on debut at Swan Hill in August before winning at Moonee Valley and then placing in her two Black Type lead up runs coming into this assignment with Damien Oliver aboard her in all bar one of those runs.
Foaled and raised at Vinery for her breeder Greg Perry, Commanding Jewel (pictured as a yearling) was purchased for $205,000 from the Vinery draft at Magic Millions and runs for a syndicate put together by Brad Spicer of Spicer Thoroughbreds.
"There was never a doubt Ollie could get the job done," said Brad Spicer.
"We have a great bunch of owners in her and this is the tip of the iceberg as she'll be an even better filly next year.
"Greg Perry bred her and he took the last 10% share in her, so I bet he's glad now he did!"
Commanding Jewel has the overall record of three wins and two placings from five starts with prizemoney in excess of $400,000 and is the second and final living foal from Zabeel mare Regard, who died prematurely in 2011.
Regard was purchased by bloodstock agent Steve Brem for $340,000 on behalf of Greg Perry at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and did her early racing for the Lloyd Williams team in Melbourne.
Regard had just three starts for two impressive wins at Sandown and Bendigo and by all accounts would have been a Black Type mare if not for injury, so we should not be surprised to see her two daughters emerge as Group I winners.
Unbeaten in winning seven out of seven, Atlantic Jewel has been on the sidelines this spring due to injury, but Commanding Jewel has picked up where she left off.
Commanding Jewel has the honour of becoming the 50th stakes-winner for Darley based sire Commands (pictured) and is his eighth Group I winner.
Commands stands this spring at a fee of $55,000 and is currently the leading Australian sire this season by earnings and stakes-winners.
Group 1 - 1600m Class: Open. Track: Good. Time: 1:37.17. Sectional Time: 0:35.70 at 600m. Prizemoney: $500,000 - 1st: $300,000 2nd: $90,000 3rd: $45,000. |
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| 1 | 8. Commanding Jewel | L J Corstens | D Oliver (6) |
$10
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55.5 |
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 3f Commands
x Regard
(Zabeel (NZ)
) Lot 460; 2011 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale; Vendor - Vinery Stud ; Buyer - MAGIC MILLIONS AS AGENT
$205,000 |
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| 2 | 2.8 | 1. Dear Demi | C E Conners | J A Cassidy (16) |
$11
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55.5 |
|
 3f Dehere (USA)
x Shirley
(Zabeel (NZ)
)Lot 516; 2011 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale; Vendor - Strawberry Hill Stud; Buyer - CLARRY CONNERS $130,000 |
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| 3 | NS | 15. Zydeco | Anthony Freedman | M Rodd (12) |
$12
|
55.5 |
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3f Zabeel (NZ)
x All Time High
(Flying Spur
) Not Offered |
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| 4 | 3.0 | 2. Longport | John Thompson | C Newitt (10) |
$10
|
55.5 |
|
| 3f Casino Prince x Ocean Bridge (Dolphin Street (FR) ) | |||||||
| 5 | 3.1 | 12. Stella Lante | John Hyam | V Duric (1) |
$21
|
55.5 |
|
| 3f Starcraft (NZ) x Villa Lante (Filante (NZ) ) | |||||||
| 6 | 4.9 | 10. Big Chill | M Ellerton & S Zahra | J Bowman (3) |
$26
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Artie Schiller (USA) x Hard Rider (NZ) (Maroof (USA) ) | |||||||
| 7 | 5.1 | 11. Love For Ransom | G Eurell | G Boss (13) |
$11
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Red Ransom (USA) x Love And Emotion (Woodman (USA) ) | |||||||
| 8 | 5.9 | 3. Lady Of Harrods | R F Cameron | J Mott (2) |
$10
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Dubawi (IRE) x Royal Conspiracy (Strategic ) | |||||||
| 9 | 6.0 | 14. Balaclava Lady | N A Blackiston | M J Walker (8) |
$31
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Charge Forward x Deep In The Woods (Danewin ) | |||||||
| 10 | 6.1 | 9. Molto Bene | Will Clarken | Craig Williams (4) |
$5
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Royal Academy (USA) x Benevolent (NZ) (Generous (IRE) ) | |||||||
| 11 | 6.9 | 4. Maybe Discreet | P Stokes | L Nolen (7) |
$7
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Shamardal (USA) x Oh So Discreet (Bluebird (USA) ) | |||||||
| 12 | 8.2 | 7. Mama's Choice | D A Hayes | D Dunn (14) |
$31
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Redoute's Choice x Red Hot Mama (General Nediym ) | |||||||
| 13 | 9.0 | 16. La Zuma | M D Moroney | L Currie (15) |
$81
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Zabeel (NZ) x Countess Chloe (Anabaa (USA) ) | |||||||
| 14 | 9.8 | 18. Excitus | K M Keys | D Gauci (11) |
$201
|
55.5 |
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| 3f Excites x Luminary (Encosta De Lago ) | |||||||
| 15 | 13.3 | 17. Meditrina | S P Nichols | S R King (5) |
$201
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55.5 |
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| 3f God's Own x Vintrack (Blackfriars ) | |||||||
| 16 | 23.3 | 5. Members Joy | R W Smerdon | Nicholas Hall (9) |
$7.50
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55.5 |
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| 3f Hussonet (USA) x Rosa's Spur (Flying Spur ) | |||||||
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