Caulfield has been a happy hunting ground for Pride Of Jenni in recent weeks, and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year produced another spectacular front-running performance at that venue in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m).
The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni has now had 38 starts for 10 wins, 12 placings and $10.44 million in stakes. She was a triple Group One winner in last season’s Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Champions Mile (1600m) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai has had some ups and downs as a seven-year-old this season, but announced her return to form with a powerhouse performance in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 15. After another blip in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) two weeks later, she headed back to Caulfield on Saturday and again demonstrated her extraordinary front-running prowess.
As expected, Pride Of Jenni was sent straight to the lead by jockey Craig Newitt and dominated the race from the front.
The $2.70 favourite with horse betting sites began to pour on the pressure approaching the home turn, and she kicked away at the top of the straight. None of her seven rivals were able to make much headway down the straight as Pride Of Jenni swept to victory by 2.25 lengths.
“She’s always fun to ride,” Newitt said. “She was good in the early part of the race, but I just wanted to get to the top of the hill at the 1300m, 1400m there before I let her roll.
“She knows where she is – she was trained here originally – so she got to the top of the hill and she changed stride, and then she started to string them out.
“I reckon the speed we were going at the 1000m mark was the same as the speed we were going at the winning post. She never quickened any more, but she never weakened either. She just maintained her gallop, which was good. Probably the last 200m was the most impressive, because her stamina kicked in and she just kept up that good gallop.”
Owner Tony Ottobre is now keen to take Pride Of Jenni to the Queensland Winter Carnival.
“She’s fantastic, isn’t she,” he said. “To see a horse do what she’s just done there, it’s incredible. I’m glad that she’s back.
“She’s still got a bit more condition than we’d like, so there’s more to come for the Doomben Cup (Gr.1, 2000m). We’re looking forward to that race.”
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