Atlantic Jewel continues to amaze trainer Mark Kavanagh who believes the unbeaten filly may have even improved from her last-start Group One Thousand Guineas victory.
Atlantic Jewel is an overwhelming $1.30 favourite on TAB Sportsbet to keep her winning streak going in Saturday’s Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington ahead of next Thursday’s VRC Oaks (2500m).
Initially Kavanagh had intended to spell the filly after the 1600-metre Thousand Guineas but he has prolonged her campaign after she thrived in the stable.
“She is exceptionally well and there is a distinct possibility she is even better than she was in the Thousand Guineas,” Kavanagh said.
“She really is pretty special, done some remarkable things, and trained on beautifully.”
Michael Rodd has sung her praises all the way through and was moved to declare her a Caulfield Cup horse in the making after her Thousand Guineas win on October 12.
Coolmore-owned, Atlantic Jewel is in her first race campaign and posted a debut win on the synthetic track at Geelong in August.
She has since won at Moonee Valley and twice at Caulfield.
The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Dowager Queen is seen as the main threat to ending Atlantic Jewel’s dominance.
Solid at $6.50 since betting opened on Wednesday, the New Zealander was an eye-catching last-start second in the Listed Ethereal Stakes (2000m) on Caulfield Cup Day.
She was beaten 1-1/2 lengths by the Bart Cummings-trained Gliding but was held up for a run from the 500 metres to the 300 metres.
Cummings is chasing his 14th Wakeful Stakes win with Gliding who is third pick in betting at $10.
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