Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) will jump from barrier one in Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m), as the Trelawney Stud bred mare looks set to meet 12 rivals in the 2000-metre contest.
The three-time Gr.1 winner will once again face Antino (NZ) (Redwood), who will again be ridden by jockey Blake Shinn after their thrilling last-start success in the Gr.2 Hollindale (1800m) as he steps out to 2000m for the first time while drawing outside in barrier 11.
Pride Of Jenni bounced back to form at Caulfield earlier this month and according to her assistant trainer Jack Turnbull, is set to give her rivals something to beat in Brisbane, no matter the track condition.
“We’ve discussed the possibility of a wet surface and when you look at her exposed form and natural racing pattern, she is going to do her normal thing, as everyone understands,” he explained.
“If she is able to slide away and maintain her gallop, as we all know, it’s incredibly hard to make up ground on a track that is rain affected. So, if she is running to her best or near her peak, she’ll be very hard to chase down.”
Over the past two years, Pride Of Jenni has only seen two wet tracks, but performed well both times. She was runner-up in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on a Heavy 9 last spring behind Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and was second again a run later on a Soft 5 in the Gr.1 King Charles III (1600m) behind Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) at Randwick.
Pride Of Jenni’s win in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on May 3 came after her disastrous Australian Cup attempt, where Turnbull said it was proven the mare had failed to back-up two weeks after her first-up win in the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
“Just as she’s getting older, she just requires that little bit of extra time when she is not fully wound up, but now she’s had that run and she’s getting ready for this 2000 (metre race), it works out really nice,” he said.
The reigning Australian Horse Of The Year had her final gallop at Cranbourne on Monday morning before she flying to Brisbane on Tuesday, with Turnbull delighted with her morning’s exercise.
“She’s ready to go after a little bit (of work) on the grass this morning,” he said. “She pulled up fine and galloped really strong and she’s right on the mark to go and run a big race.
“She’s come through her last race fine. As we said, it was always our intention to give her that extra week, which has worked perfectly.”
If things go to plan on Saturday and Pride Of Jenni wins her first Gr.1 since her unforgettable Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) victory at Randwick last autumn, she could yet face a new challenge in Brisbane this winter in the form of the $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.
“The Q22 has been mentioned over the 2200 metres and while we are very much one race at a time, given the program and the fact she will be there (Brisbane), you’d have to give it consideration,” he said.