Atlantic Jewel returned to racing in a blaze of glory, unprecedented, leaving her fans spellbound with the ease of her win in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield yesterday.

Her trainer, Mark Kavanagh, has reported she pulled up well after her magnificent win, it is now full steam ahead, the spring awaits her.

Certainly the Cox Plate is her prime mission; she will most likely run in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes in two weeks, over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley, the venue of her first Melbourne win.

During the post parade she didn’t turn a hair, fully focused on what was ahead of her, perfectly relaxed as she walked the paddock area.

In contrast, her trainer, Mark Kavanagh, was showing signs of nervous strain, he has been to hell and back, it has been a long preparation over the past 16 months, when nothing could be taken for granted.

She had drifted slightly in the betting from odds on, yet remained favourite, the draw was perfect from centre of the field and she jumped away well.

Atlantic Jewel winning with ease

She was never further back in running than fourth, Michael Rodd, the perfectionist, was making sure he was giving the mare room when it came time to press the button.

By the time the home turn was reached, Atlantic Jewel coasted up to the leaders as if she had just joined them.

It is hard to believe that Rodd was actually easing her down when the post was reached, that is a true indication of her easy win.

An emotional Mark Kavanagh greeted Atlantic Jewel as she returned to scale; the exasperations and frustrations were erased by the success of the champion mare.

He was speechless after the race, after gaining his composure all he wanted to do was enjoy the moment with his wife, Isabel.

The former jumps rider, out of Mount Gambier, has enjoyed racing at the highest level, the Melbourne Cup with Shocking, Maldivian winning the Cox Plate, Caulfield Guineas with Whobegotyou and now what could be the best mare in the world, Atlantic Jewel.

After such a long break from racing, with a recurring tendon injury, it is only champions that come back; Todman and Tulloch were the example more than half a century ago.

Mark Kavanagh and Michael Rodd enjoying the moment

Moonee Valley Racing Club recognised leading female trainer, for the 2012-2013 season, Gwenda Johnstone, at a presentation in the committee room last Saturday.

She prepared 15 winners during the season in Victoria, plus a few that didn’t count over the border in New South Wales.

It was appropriate the presentation was made at Moonee Valley, as she trained quite a number of horses for a former chairman of the Club, the late Bill Stutt.

Bill was a loyal supporter of the Johnstone stable, they had a great association racing numerous horses in the colours of cardinal, black sleeves and cap, bequeathed to the chairman by the late Leslie Aldridge of Kismet, Park the home of the great Manfred.

Gwenda, with the assistance of her husband, Michael, have around 15 in work at stables adjacent to the Echuca racecourse.

While training horses, there will always be the highs and the lows, you cannot escape them, you have to take them as they come.

The high was surely Shadoway when he won the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville, it doesn’t get much better than that.

As for the lows they will always be about, however, they were all erased when Gwenda received her well earned trophy.

Gwenda Johnstone - Leading Female Trainer

Cauthen, has joined Prince Harada, as equal favourite for the Caulfield Guineas after his authoritative win in the Essendon Nissan McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valle.

The colt didn’t jump cleanly from the gate, however, it hardly hampered him much, he soon worked himself into a good position and was always travelling comfortably thereafter

He had the race sown up a long way out from what we saw at Moonee Valley, he is without question a very promising colt, some New Zealanders claim the best sent across at his age since Our Maizcay, winner of the Caulfield Guineas 18 years ag

Whilst it may be a little premature to draw a comparison, Cauthen is heading in the right direction, he is winning and you cannot knock a winne

The colt will have two more starts, a fortnight apart, which should fit him for the Guineas, while Prince Harada will open his spring campaign on Saturday in the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield.

Prince Harada will not be fully wound up at this stage, he is taking on the flying Adelaide filly, Miracles Of Life, over the 1200 metres, she is expected to have too much zip for the colt over this distance.

Cauthen winning with ease

The Melbourne Racing Club’s decision to run the Memsie Stakes as the last race on Saturday has not been well thought out.

The best horses, those with important engagements during the spring, will receive last use of the track, which hardly fits well with owners and trainers.

Mark Kavanagh is entitled to be concerned, he trains the best mare in the world, Atlantic Jewel, she has not raced for 17 months due to an injury.

In the event the track deteriorated in any way as the result of inclement weather, or the track drying right out, this could be a problem for the mare returning from injury after such a long break.

Whether the decision to run the race last would increase betting is highly debatable, most of the wagering is off course, it would be a poor look out for racing if that ever changed.

Broken is racing in great form, carrying on from winning at Flemington with another barn storming performance, to win the I Print.Com.Au Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The gelding was almost friendless in the market after having won so well at Flemington a couple of weeks ago.

Apparently a lot of the shrewd judges were not that impressed with his previous win, as he drifted in the betting to start at $13.

Much of the interest in the race was centred on the mare, Commanding Jewel; she was having her first start since winning the Thousand Guineas last spring.

She looked a picture in the paddock, she has developed into a lovely mare, however, she didn’t install much confidence in the market place as she was another that drifted.

Possibly she may have been better suited had she drawn out a bit further, in the field she was cramped for room in running and appeared to sprawl when tightened up for room near the winning post.

Her trainer, Leon Corstens, was pleased with the run, pointing out that she is not exactly a speed mare, she may be looking for further ground as we go into the spring.

She will press onto the Danehill Stakes, more will be known as to which direction will be taken with her.

Broken ridden by Nick Hall