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Atlantic Jewel heads select field in Caulfield While Saturday's Group 1 Caulfield Stakes has drawn a short field, it does not lack talent, and is headlined by Atlantic Jewel, who will attempt to atone for her first defeat in 10 outings last out in the Underwood here September 21. The Mark Kavanagh-trained five-year-old took her first top-level event two years ago almost to the day in Caulfield's Thousand Guineas, and added a pair of Group 2s and the All Aged against older rivals en route to champion three-year-old filly honors. Sidelined for 16 months due to injury thereafter, Atlantic Jewel has perhaps returned better than ever this season, sweeping the Memsie and Stocks Stakes before going down by a valiant head to It's a Dundeel in the Underwood. The star mare's biggest threat here could be Foreteller, who upended early Melbourne Cup favorite Puissance de Lune in the Makybe Diva at Flemington September 7. The Chris Waller-trained import finished a flat 12th after dropping out of affairs early in the Underwood, and looks to get back on track after 21 days on the sidelines. Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon takes in this race en route to a title defense November 5. The seven-year-old Robert Hickmott charge has not won since claiming Australia's famed race last year, but as is the norm in that country, he has been gradually building up in distance throughout his latest prep, most recently finishing ninth, beaten four lengths, in the Underwood. Also on Saturday, three-year-olds take center stage for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, with a field of 14 drawn for Victoria's first major spring sophomore event. Darley homebred Long John heads the early betting, and will look to give the stable its second renewal in three years after Helmet took this event two years ago. The gelding didn't hit the racetrack until April, but he quickly made up for lost time, taking his first two outings including the Anzac Day at Flemington April 25. Spelled thereafter, Long John returned to finish third in the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley August 24, and won the Henry Bucks at Flemington September 7 before finishing third in the Guineas Prelude here September 29. The winner that day was Eclair Big Bang, who took his first two outings at Morphetville. The Phillip Stokes charge was not disgraced when third after running slightly greenly in the Danehill on September 7, and made amends for that defeat last out. Prince Harada strung together a pair of victories earlier this year before hitting the sidelines. He returned to finish second in a messy McNeil here August 31, and was most recently fifth after finding traffic trouble early in the Golden Rose at Rosehill September 14. The Peter Moody-trained Dissident looks to follow the same path to victory as All Too Hard last year, parlaying defeat in the George Main against older horses into a win here. Dissident, who has not won in six starts since his debut here January 26, was not disgraced in Randwick's George Main September 21, fighting traffic troubles along the rail to finish sixth. He gets the services of Moody's top jockey, Luke Nolen, while Ben Melham partners his stablemate, Weinholt. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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