Atlantic Jewel’s winning streak came to a conclusion, when she was narrowly beaten by It’s A Dundeel, in the weight for age Underwood Stakes.

In what was to prove an epic event, champagne racing at its very best, the crowds waited in anticipation while shadows began to creep in to what had been a long day.

The first lady of the turf, Atlantic Jewel, remained calm in the pre post parade, the same could not be said for those closely connected to the mare, you could feel the tension of the occasion.

She opened in the red at odds on, and shortened slightly at post time, the only runner backed against her was the New Zealander, It’s A Dundeel, who was to prove her downfall.

Atlantic Jewel began surprising well from a centre gate, Michael Rodd allowed her to stride out, she was under no pressure to lead as the field made its way to the hill, on the Neerim Road side of the course.

Soon after James McDonald allowed It’s A Dundeel further rein, he was then at the girth of the favourite while the Oaks success, Dear Demi, was handy running third.

It was basically a three horse race from the start, the only other horse that looked a chance was Happy Trails, he finished up running fourth.

It’s A Dundeel’s previous winning form was centred around his own age group during the Sydney autumn carnival.

He has since made the transition to weight for age, and has now been installed as second favourite to Atlantic Jewel for the Cox Plate, at Moonee Valley.

It's A Dundeel doing a shade better than Atlantic Jewel

James McDonald rode a superb race on the winner, with not a lot of pace in the race the decision to go forward paid off handsomely.

It’s A Dundeel will now move onto the Caulfield Stakes in two weeks, with another fortnight into the Cox Plate, whether Mark Kavanagh follows the same path with Atlantic Jewel is likely, but yet not confirmed.

The Melbourne Cup favourite, Puissance De Lune, was that far back in the field he was out of firing range, however, he did run on fairly without ever looking a chance.

No decisions have been made with the Cup favourite, the Turnbull Stakes and the MacKinnon Stakes maybe the best avenue to take, he has little chance of a pre run at Moonee Valley that would not be the ideal way to go leading into a Cox Plate.

Happy Trails was by far the best run in the race outside of the three placegetters; Manighar held his ground for most of the trip, there may be a race to suit over further during the carnival.

Green Moon, the Melbourne Cup winner of last year, didn’t do a lot; he was well back in the field for most of the way and hardly improved his position in the run home.

While his stable mate, Sea Moon, was highly disappointing, it was a most lethargic performance, he never got into the race at any stage.

The three horses in the leading division filling the placings all were out of Zabeel mares,that was not the first time he has scored the trifecta, in 1999 he sired all three placings in the Caulfield Cup, Sky Heights, Laebeel and Inaflury.

It's A Dundeel with James McDonald up

Kuroshio showed a brilliant turn of foot, from an outside gate, leading all the way to win the Group 2 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley in near record time.

Had he been pushed right out he most likely would have at least equalled the record for 1000 metres, set by Miss Andretti of 57.22 secs.

Kuroshoi’s 57.80 secs for the journey was an outstanding gallop and has increased his value while earning Black Type for the connections.

At this stage he looks to be a speed horse, whether he can find any stamina to go further remains to be seen.

“He is a quick horse, he came down in good order, he is a professional racehorse, leaves the starting gate quickly and is a free runner,” said Paul Snowden.

Kuroshio - A real flying machine 

He showed good form in Melbourne in the early autumn before being rushed off to Sydney to be prepared for the Golden Slipper Stakes, where he finished among the also ran.

There is a chance he may be a better horse in Melbourne and more suited to racing in the left handed direction.

Peter Snowden was confident he would run well after the San Domenico Stakes, when another runner played up in the gates and spoilt any chance he might have had.

Kuroshio has inherited much of the pace of his sire Exceed And Excel, he is out of an imported mare in Arctic Drift, by Gone West.

He should he capable of getting 1200 metres, whether he would get much further on his pedigree could be questioned.

Paul Snowden displays the trophy

Atlantic Jewel didn’t turn a hair in winning the Top Cut Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley.

She sounded another warning; those that take her on in the Cox Plate will need to be at the top of their game, as she hasn’t peaked yet.

The Stocks Stakes was nothing more than an exercise gallop, she controlled the race to suit herself, and it was nothing more than a procession.

Mark Kavanagh was playing it a bit coy, the pressure was showing, he is not making statements that we don’t already know, she is on course for the Cox Plate and there is still improvement there.

Someone got it wrong when the trainer was questioned as to why he didn’t accept with the mare in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam?

It was never the intention for his spring stars, Atlantic Jewel and Super Cool, to clash again after the Memsie Stakes, each was on a separate course.

No decision has been made as to the mare’s next start it will depend on how she pulls up and how she does in the stable during the week.

Mark Kavanagh has guided her with kid gloves during the long absence of 17 months, robbing her of her entire four year old racing season, and a bit more.

Only the good ones ever come back after such a long break, Atlantic Jewel is the rare exception; she has been in and out of the stable during that long rehabilitation period.

Atlantic Jewel - In full flight

She a very special horse, as was seem at her last two starts, it is now nine on end, it will get harder from here in, they can raise the bar, she will meet the challenge, there is little doubt she is a champion, and champions can overcome obstacles.

“She has come on since the Memsie, getting fitter in the small field, it was a soft run, I only had to click her up, she did the rest,” said Michael Rodd.

“At the 600 metres maker, when the others were putting on the pressure, she was perfectly relaxed, she hadn’t changed gears at that point, she has a high cruising speed, she puts them away quickly,” he added.

However, there is one concern, she is a bugger shying at things, such as signage and the car running around the inside track, filming, was getting far too close

Chief Steward, Terry Bailey, admitted he had to speak to drivers going so quickly at times.

Queen of the Turf

Fiorente will shorten dramatically for the Melbourne Cup after his eye catching performance in winning the Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes, at Moonee Valley.

He had to circle the entire field to get a crack at the leaders; he wasn’t even in the picture with 20 metres left to run.

The quality of the race was not your average weight for age field, particularly after the on course scratching of Happy Trails, never the less nothing could be taken from the winner.

Fiorente finished second in the Melbourne Cup last year, to Green Moon; at his first start here he will be a different horse now that he is fully acclimatised.

Gai Waterhouse has nursed this horse along with just one thought in mind, the first Tuesday in November.

She has only given him the one run in Sydney, when he finished well running third in the All Aged Stakes to, All Too Hard at Randwick.

Super Cool would have lost no admirers after running fourth to Fiorente from a Caulfield Cup point of view, he was hemmed in on the fence all the way up the straight with nowhere to go, under the circumstances is was a good run.

He has won at weight for age in the Australian Cup, and was only beaten by the narrowest of margins in the V R C Derby.

Fiorente - Mows them down

Damian Oliver is back in business, doing what he does best, riding winners, after an enforced layoff of 10 months.

First ride back at Geelong on Friday he won the opening race on Lion Of Belfort, for Mick Price, while at Moonee Valley, he rode the perfect race winning on Divine Calling, for Gai Waterhouse.

It was a big occasion for the popular hoop who had the full support of his family, and he didn’t let them down, even his mother made the trip over from Perth to be with her son.

Oliver hasn’t lost his touch, far from it, he will be among the main players during the Spring.

Damian Oliver back in Town