Commanding Jewel will have a barrier trial at Cranbourne to confirm a Group One start at the Brisbane winter carnival as she continues her long road back from injury.
The winner of the 2012 Thousand Guineas, the mare has been beset by injury throughout her career which has been restricted so far to just seven starts, four of which she has won.
Her trainer Leon Corstens says her latest preparation has gone smoothly and she will have a trial on Monday (26th May) ahead of a tilt at the Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on June 21.
A three-quarter sister to four-time Group One winner Atlantic Jewel, Commanding Jewel has not raced since she won the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes last September.
“She has been quite a problem,” Corstens said.
“She tore off half her foot in a paddock accident and it took a long time to heal.
“We gave her a jump-out at Seymour a couple of weeks ago and she has come through that well so we are hoping to get her to Queensland for the mares’ race.”
Damien Oliver, who rode Commanding Jewel to her Group One Thousand Guineas win, will test her in the Cranbourne trial.
Commanding Jewel was forced to the spelling paddock after the Let’s Elope Stakes when she tore a muscle high in her hindquarters.
Her two-start spring campaign came after a lengthy lay-off during due to a joint injury which kept her out of the 2013 autumn.
– AAP