Group One winner Commanding Jewel is set to relaunch her career at Caulfield on Saturday after an absence of almost a year.
The 2012 Thousand Guineas winner has not started since she won the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes in early September last year.
She is due to make her comeback in the Group Three Cockram Stakes (1200m).
Commanding Jewel winning the Lets Elope Stakes at Flemington – photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
A muscle injury after the Let’s Elope forced her out of the rest of the 2013 spring carnival and she then suffered a foot injury in a paddock accident.
“It was a nasty injury,” trainer Leon Corstens said.
“It’s taken a long time and been very frustrating. I’m just really pleased for the owners and for myself that we’ve got her back again.”
Commanding Jewel had a couple of trials and an exhibition gallop during winter with a view to running in the Group One Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm but those plans were shelved in favour of a spring campaign.
The five-year-old daughter of Commands is a three-quarter sister to retired star Atlantic Jewel who won 10 of her 11 starts including four Group One races.
Commanding Jewel has been restricted to just seven starts so far for four wins including the Group One Thousand Guineas and the Group Two Let’s Elope.
The mare has had two jump-outs at Flemington in recent weeks, including a convincing win down the straight last Friday week.
“I’m pleased with her. All going well she’s going to run in the Cockram,” Corstens, who now trains in partnership with his son Troy, said.
Damien Oliver is booked for the mare on Saturday having ridden her in four of her starts including the Thousand Guineas.
“Damien is going to have a sit on her on Tuesday in a track gallop at Flemington and we’ll get a good guide from there,” Corstens said.
The Cockram Stakes, which is restricted to mares, is one of five stakes races on Saturday’s Caulfield card which is highlighted by the Group One Memsie Stakes.
