Jockey Michael Rodd hailed Atlantic Jewel as a Caulfield Cup horse in the making after her dominant win in the Group One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
The unbeaten filly could not have been more impressive as she brought up her fourth victory, charging around the field from third last to win Wednesday’s 1600m feature by three lengths.
Mosheen rounded the turn in front but was no match for the Coolmore-owned filly and finished second, while Sharnee Rose tried hard in third place another 2-1/4 lengths away.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh was choked with emotion as what he thought became reality with the filly who he described as “something else”.
“Horses like her don’t come along very often,” Kavanagh said.
“She can do many things that I haven’t seen a horse do before.”
Rodd said that after trackwork last Thursday the Kavanagh stable could not have been more confident about her winning the Guineas.
“After her last piece of work last Thursday we came in and Kav shook his head and walked away while (assistant trainer) Merv Harvey just said ‘freak’,” he said.
“They were just blown away by the work she put in and it is just good to get her here on race day in one piece and let her show what she has really got.”
But her supporters are unlikely to see Atlantic Jewel again this year.
Kavanagh said there were no thoughts of paying the $130,000 late entry free to run her in the Cox Plate in 10 days’ time and that he would recommend to the owners that she be rested for the autumn.
“She is a very good filly and we don’t want to gut her,” Kavanagh said.
“I will discuss it with the owners later but I will recommend she goes to the paddock.
“She is something else and I think we should give her a chance to get there.
“She put paid to them in a couple of strides today and for her to dominate like that she is a very, very good horse.”
Rodd has ridden some great three-year-olds including Efficient and Whobegotyou who is among the top horses Kavanagh has trained along with Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and Cox Plate winner Maldivian.
“She is very dominant,” Rodd said.
“On potential, and what she can do for the future, it is very big.
“She has still got a lot to learn. Her ears are always flicking wherever she is and still very green.
“We could be talking Caulfield Cup this time next year but she is also very brilliant and so it (the Cox Plate) could be there too.”
Atlantic Jewel hadn’t competed in a stakes race before Wednesday but Rodd rode her like she was the best horse in the race, tracking three wide and making his move from the 800 metres when she was third last.
“I saw a couple of spots up there and when I got up behind Mosheen I put the brakes on,” Rodd said.
“I was pretty confident the race was over.
“When I gave her head she was going two to Mosheen’s one.”
AAP TURF
