She’s got a ticket to ride: Jenni ‘very fit’ for All-Star
A gap between runs won’t lead to Pride Of Jenni’s rivals having any respite in Saturday’s All-Star Mile at Caulfield.
Pride Of Jenni’s frontrunning racing style has scared off a couple of possible contenders while presenting a tough opponent for the oddson favourite Mr Brightside.
Mr Brightside had to dig deep to get past Pride Of Jenni when the pair last clashed in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes while the latter prevailed in the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington in the spring.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni had the better of Tuesday’s barrier draw, getting barrier six while Mr Brightside drew barrier 11.
Mr Brightside has had an extra run in his autumn campaign while Pride Of Jenni will go into the All-Star Mile with a five-week gap between runs.
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Pride Of Jenni had done plenty of work in that five-week period, including a Cranbourne jumpout win on March 4.
“She had a nice gallop on Monday and off the back of her most recent jumpout, she’s very fit,” Turnbull said.
“She’s gone a few weeks between runs on purpose so, physically, we couldn’t be happier and her demeanour’s right where we want it.
“We go in with an air of confidence. We’ve kept the work up to her in between so we’re pretty confident she’s going to run a bold race.” Pride Of Jenni is at her fourth stable after spending time with trainers Shane Bottomley, David Brideoake and Symon Wilde before arriving at Maher’s stable.
Turnbull said Pride Of Jenni did a lot wrong in her younger days before emerging as one of Australia’s best 1600m gallopers with two outstanding Group 1 wins during last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Turnbull said Pride Of Jenni’s C.F. Orr Stakes second indicated the six-year-old could improve further in her autumn campaign.
“She ran a career-peak when she just got beaten first-up over 14 (00m) so we know she’s going very well,”
“She was very aggressive 12 or 18 months ago but as she’s getting older and getting more exposed, she’s furnishing mentally and physically.
“Now she actually comes back to her rider, takes a breath, gets into a rhythm and she can work off that.”