Jenni gearing for Stakes tilt
One final autumn challenge awaits racing’s warrior princess Pride Of Jenni in Sydney on Saturday.
Pride Of Jenni has morphed into one of Australian racing’s most formidable performers this season with her ruthless racing style bringing her two Group 1 wins and victory in the All-Star Mile.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare will tackle the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in what is all but certain to be her last appearance of the season.
Pride Of Jenni erased any doubts about her running 2000m despite going down narrowly in the Australian Cup at Flemington, courtesy of a perfect Ben Melham ride on Cascadian.
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said regular rider Declan Bates reported Pride Of Jenni gave even more when challenged near the finish. “I thought her performance was monumental,” Turnbull said.
“If Cascadian had got to her earlier, it would have been interesting.
“Dec actually mentioned she started to pick up again on the line somehow.”
Pride Of Jenni will race for $5m in prizemoney in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is the richest race of The Championships at Randwick.
TAB installed Pride Of Jenni as the $4.50 second favourite behind the $2.10 top pick Via Sistina, who made an impressive Australian debut in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill.
Turnbull said a hitout away from the racetrack at Cranbourne formed part of Pride Of Jenni’s preparation for her battle against her imported adversary.
“She just had a very quiet week last week and had a bowl in the sandhills at Cranbourne on Saturday morning,” Turnbull said. “Naturally, when we travel them up to Sydney, we like to give them a gallop the day before travelling.
“I’d say she travels up to Sydney on Wednesday night.”
Pride Of Jenni has had three previous runs in Sydney.
The six-year-old was narrowly denied in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes last autumn before struggling in two Randwick runs a week apart.
But those performances were before Pride Of Jenni blossomed into one of Australia’s top gallopers.
Turnbull said Pride Of Jenni would be a much tougher proposition for her latest trip north.
“I’m very confident in the way she races now,” Turnbull said. “It’s not a matter of like nine months ago, if something took her on she would be gone.
“Now, if something did take her on, she could take a sit if they’re quick enough.”