COMMANDER JEWEL STAYS HOME
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has cancelled a proposed $A50,000 Victoria Trotting Oaks start for Commander Jewel at Tabcorp Park, Melton, on Friday, June 10.
Mark had planned to send the CR Commando filly across to Australia next Wednesday, but has reviewed those plans after she galloped and failed to settle in the $100,000 Overport Lodge 3YO Ruby at Ashburton on Jewels day, Saturday, June 4.
The NZ Trotting Oaks winner tailed the field in the Ruby, won by favourite Paramount Geegee, who was too strong for the Phil Williamson-trained stablemates Springbank Sam and Talkmeintoit, in 1:57.3 for the 1609m.
Earlier, Master Lavros repeated his gallop at the workouts a week earlier in the Neumann’s Tyres and The Tyre General 2YO Ruby Trot and will now head for a four month spell.
Stablemate Beau Brummell was handy enough on the outer until the home turn but tired in the run home.
Commander Jewel hadn’t put a foot wrong in back-to-back front-running wins going into the Jewels.
She backed up her NZ Trotting Oaks victory with an easy front-running win the 1 win Taieri Print Trot at Oamaru on May 22.
The CR Commando-In De Fence filly justified her warm favouritism at Oamaru, winning untested by 2 1/4 lengths in 3:28.4 for the 2600m from a stand, quickening over her last 800m in 58s and final 400m in 28.8s.
After the Jewels, she had raced nine times, for four wins, and $31,207 in stakes.