Champion mare Atlantic Jewel has been ruled out of the 2013 Cox Plate, with a tendon injury forcing trainer Mark Kavanagh to withdraw the horse from Australia’s richest weight-for-age championship.
Kavanagh had yesterday indicated that he would consider scratching the mare because of a potentially heavy track, with rain forecast for Melbourne for the rest of the week.
Atlantic Jewel had trained at Flemington earlier this morning before being ruled out, with Kavanagh indicating a decision would be made on the mare’s racing future in coming weeks.
The news came after the official Cox Plate barrier draw, where Atlantic Jewel had favourably drawn barrier seven.
Atlantic Jewel’s scratching means that the Danny O’Brien-trained Shamus Award, a three-year-old that remains winless after nine career starts, will come into the field as an emergency.
It’s A Dundeel is now favourite for the race despite drawing barrier 13, with Puissance De Lune the new second favourite.
Punters who had backed Atlantic Jewel in futures markets received some good news in the aftermath, with Sportsbet confirming that all futures bets and futures multiples will be refunded.
Billy
Guest
Absolute disgrace. It's a dundeel walk in the park. Tear those invitations to those internationals up. Strawberry Road won 4 big group ones and earnt his invite. These Williams will never win the plate until they breed thier own champ, fiorente and puissance still yet do it although their lead up runs have been better than good. Happy trails deserves to be their and the 3yos have no hope. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
nan2can
Guest
Oh and the club should not let shamus award run bloody joke
nan2can
Guest
un tapped could have been anything but really won nothing. By that i mean a major-had oaks and cox plates at mercy. A star that could easily have been a freak
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Sad day for racing if AJ's career is over.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Dead right Will, if Shamus Award runs then there's something wrong. Very sad news, don't know the severity but that's two injuries now, I doubt we'll be seeing her again.
Max
Guest
SMH is reporting AJ's career may well be done. A real travesty if so...
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
What a pity! Shamus Award hey...