Jewel shines in stellar return

Superstar mare Atlantic Jewel's return victory exceeded all expectations as she thumped her star-studded rivals in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Source: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

THE anointment of Atlantic Jewel as the new Queen of the Australian Turf was officially done with her triumphant return to racing.

After being sidelined for 18 months, Atlantic Jewel took her record to eight wins from eight starts after an emphatic win in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

She has an apparent stranglehold on any race she contests and has firmed into $3 to win the Cox Plate with TAB fixed odds.

Atlantic Jewel hadn't started since she won the All Aged Stakes at Randwick in 2012 but she treated her rivals with contempt over the closing stages in the Memsie Stakes.

Her jockey Michael Rodd said the winning margin could have been further as he eased her down over the final 200m.

Atlantic Jewel drifted from $1.80 to $2.20 and won by two-and-a-quarter lengths over Ferlax ($21) and her stablemate Super Cool ($17).

Her trainer Mark Kavanagh, who painstakingly plotted her return to racing after she injured her tendon a year ago, was overcome by the performance.

"That was what I was hoping for. It was what I had been dreaming of but you don't necessarily think they come true," Kavanagh said.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh Source: Getty Images

"I'm starting to believe fairytales do come true after that. To win with such authority after such a long time out is a relief."

"To be honest I feel like I've been carrying a five-tonne rock on my back for the past month and now its just been lifted off my shoulders."

Kavanagh said Atlantic Jewel still had a lot of improvement to come which was frightening.

"I won't sleep until I check her tomorrow morning when I see how she pulled up," he said.

Kavanagh said it was likely that Atlantic Jewel would have her next start in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 14.

"I will talk to the Coolmore boys and take it from there," he said.

Rodd said it was an amazing performance.

"Going into the race we knew how good she is and the only things that would beat her would be bad luck or a bad ride," Rodd said.

He said it was frightening how well Atlantic Jewel travelled in the run and he knew he had the race won at the 800m mark.

Rodd said she jumped well and at one stage was left out wide when the pace slackened but he was pleased that Second Effort went around the field so he could get some cover.

"Once that happened I knew the race was over. I was feeling a bit toey but I waited as long as I could before I gave her a squeeze and let her go."

"She then out panels on them and I thought I better switch her off as she was first-up for 18 months so I turned the after burners off and she switched off."

"That was a massive training effort from Kav and his staff as she had a serious tendon injury."

"We were confident that she was ready but she still had to go round and do it first-up."

Rodd also described the win as a massive relief for him.

Kavanagh was also enthusiastic about the return of Super Cool who finished strongly for third.

"He's got a lot of improvement to come, much more than Atlantic Jewel," Kavanagh said.

Super Cool firmed from $15 to $10 for the Cox Plate.

Super Cool hadn't run since he won the Australian Cup at Flemington last March.

Kavanagh said he intends to split Super Cool and Atlantic Jewel until the Cox Plate.

Super Cool will have his next start in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21.

Jim Conlan was pleased with the run of Ferlax and said he was on track for his main spring mission the Cox Plate.

Kiwi It's a Dundeel finished a close-up fourth but didn't have much luck in the closing stages.

Brett Prebble described the run of Green Moon (fifth) as super.

"You couldn't ask for anything more from a Melbourne Cup winner in a first-up run," Prebble said.

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