All the latest news from Spicer Thoroughbreds.

Commanding Jewel grabs Group 1 glory winning the One Thousand Guineas

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Running up to her looks, the stunning Commanding Jewel strolls home to win the Gr1 event

Running up to her looks, the stunning Commanding Jewel strolls home to win the Gr1 event

Commanding Jewel is now a Group One winner.

The ¾ sister to Atlantic Jewel claimed the honours in her own right today when she brilliantly took out the One Thousand Guineas courtesy of an outstanding ride by champion jockey, Damien Oliver and a perfect training feat my the master, Leon Corstens.

Amid much media controversy over a betting scandal, Ollie was keen to show he still has what it takes to win the big ones and he disregarded the headlines to concentrate on the issue at hand, riding this filly to perfection. She settled in about 7th spot and once he eased her into daylight she pounced on the lead and raced away to give her rivals a galloping lesson.

“I can’t thank Leon enough. He is having a great run. He has a great team and to him and Brad and the owners that have stuck by me at this time, I can’t thank them enough,” Ollie said.

Leon, no stranger to Group One winners, had this filly trained to the minute and the way she won was testament to that.

Congratulations to the fantastic connections who now have an extremely valuable broodmare on their hands.
She will now go for a ell earned break and hopefully be back late Autumn.

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(left to right) Brad Spicer, Leon Corstens & Damien Oliver celebrate the Gr1 win.

Commanding Jewel brave 3rd in Gr2 E. Manifold

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Partially obscured between runners issuing her claim.

Partially obscured between runners issuing her claim.

Commanding Jewel added to her Black Type resumé this afternoon but was 0.4L from being a Group 2 winner when a gutsy 3rd in the Edward Manifold Stks at Flemington this afternoon.

In a change of tactics with the aim of teaching her to her relax, she was ridden with a sit today and though pulled early she eventually relaxed. When it was time to go she was unable to wear down eventual winner Maybe Discreet, but was far from disgraced in her effort and it is now full steam ahead for her Grand Final, the Gr1 One Thousand Guineas in 10 days time.

Awesomely Unlucky

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Awesome Bro (no.5) in tries valiantly to reel in the leaders

Awesome Bro (no.5) in tries valiantly to reel in the leaders

The Brad Spicer managed talent, Awesome Bro was luckless once again in a bid to win the Gr 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield this afternoon.

Set a task to come from back in the field in a muddling run race, Ollie couldn’t get a crack at them when he needed to but the tough and talented 3yo still sprouted wings when clear and finished 3rd to the handy Epaulette. He was almost a length in front a few strides after the post, so quickly was he finishing.

Despite not winning it was a great Guineas trial though he will bump into a horse called Pierro and the emerging Blue-blood All Too Hard, on the day.

All in a day’s work as we snare four winners!

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Brad celebrates four wins for the day.

Brad celebrates four wins for the day.


As the country gears up for the AFL grand Final tomorrow which will no doubt provide a lifetime of memorable moments for players of one team, we had our own taste of the surreal when 4 Spicer runners saluted over two meetings today.

Sekiguchi comes with a perfectly timed run to score

Sekiguchi comes with a perfectly timed run to score


At Geelong this afternoon, the beautifully bred Sekiguchi franked Leon and Brad’s opinion of him as a Derby prospect when he finished best to beat a couple of smart ones including Zabeelionaire’s little sister Gondorko, over the 1700m trip. Ollie gave the son of Encosta De Lago out of a half to the brilliant Serenade Rose a little pep talk on the way to the gates about how much winning the race would contribute to him keeping his manhood and it seemed to have done the trick.

Wolfpack has the looks and the talent

Wolfpack has the looks and the talent


The next on the card produced our 2nd winner (and 3rd for Team Corstens who had trained the first on the card too) when Wolfpack, the extremely handsome son of Savabeel stormed home from last to score running away. We believed this bloke to still be a touch immature so that win really pleased all and sundry involved with him. He has plenty of upside and should really develop into a promising galloper next time around.

After barely time to celebrate the perfect day at Geelong, the Spicer/ Corstens show rolled on to Moonee Valley.

S. King partners Tokugawa to another city victory

S. King partners Tokugawa to another city victory


Tokugawa, looked a very solid chance in the 3rd race after being competitive at G2 level last start and duly won like a good thing. The son of Choisir never looked in doubt as he raced away to dismantle his rivals. He looks to have a lovely bright future ahead of him, in fact we may even have a shy at the stumps and see how he fares in Gr1 company in the Toorak Hcp at Caulfield.

Speed machine, Snitzem skips away to score at The Valley

Speed machine, Snitzem skips away to score at The Valley


Snitzem stepped out in the Essendon Mazda 955m challenge two races later and showed what a talent he is when he left handy sprinters like General Truce and the very speedy Obsidian Dragon in his wake to score an effortless win.

This bloke is such a genuine, talented sprinter we may give him a crack at the Gr2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield in a couple of weeks time.

It is days like this that make braving the icy cold mornings watching trackwork at Romsey, worthwhile.

Commanding Jewel an inch away from Group 3 Success

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Ollie throws the kitchen sink at her to try and stave off the challenge from Lady Of Harrods

Ollie throws the kitchen sink at her to try and stave off the challenge from Lady Of Harrods


Unfortunately the dream of Commanding Jewel remaining undefeated has come to an end when she was beaten by the narrowest of margins in the Gr3 Tranquil Star at Caulfield today.

Ollie claimed that it was only immaturity that brought her undone and the 10/10 ride by winning jock Steve Arnold aboard Lady Of Harrods didn’t help our girl either.

Commanding Jewel led comfortably but didn’t really know when to quicken and when she did lengthen, she let out the eventual winner who was smoking the pipe behind us. Though she rallied hard she just couldn’t stave off the challenge.

Though beaten we believe she will have benefited from the run and she will tackle the Edward Manifold Stks next start before a tilt at the Gr 1 One Thousand Guineas.

Commanding Jewel 2 from 2 after soft win at The Valley

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Rising Star, Commanding Jewel ticked another box in her quest to soar to similar heights as her brilliant ¾ sister Atlantic Jewel, when she easily accounted for her rivals in the opening race at Moonee Valley this afternoon.

After a nice getaway, she was immediately headed by one intent on leading so jockey Damien Oliver was very happy to take a sit. She eased round heels before the turn, shouldering into the clear like a professional, raced to the front and put the issue beyond doubt in a few strides

Damien was full of praise later saying that she had a real touch of class, did everything right and quickened when he asked and he’s very confident she is destined for bigger wins.

Thankfully everything is going according to script and she will head to the Gr3 Tranquil Star at Caulfield.

Commanding Jewel steps out In style

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The wait is over for connections of exciting filly Commanding Jewel.

The three-quarter sister to superstar galloper Atlantic Jewel, stepped out for her first race appearance at Swan Hill earlier today- a very low key start to what will hopefully be a promising career.

Punters didn’t miss her public trial two weeks ago when she won by 12L untouched and she duly started prohibitively long odds-on ($1.14). Though we purchased and syndicated her she will not race in our familiar blue and gold colours, rather in a deal made with part owner Mr John Donegan, a long time supporter of Leon’s, she will wear his silks.

The stunning daughter of Commands was quickly into stride and sat up outside the leader when they settled. She was always traveling kindly and assumed control shortly after straightening. When challenged momentarily, she was given a little flick by J. Mott, responded well and went to the line under a hold to score in good time.

Leon has had a big wrap on this filly from the moment he laid eyes on her and now with the Maiden out of the way, we will gradually raise the bar for her and if all goes according to plan will set her for a tilt at the Gr1 One Thousand Guineas.