Whether black-type opportunities arrive this preparation or further down the track, Gavin Bedggood knows he has a filly with significant upside in Jenni The Ninja.
At just her second career start, the daughter of Shalaa stepped up in class and proved more than capable, defeating Group-performed fillies to claim the Jockey Celebration Sprint Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sent out a bookies $5.50 chance with Beau Mertens aboard, Jenni The Ninja was held up between runners down the straight before tracking $3.90 favourite and leader Military Tycoon.
Once clear, she produced a sharp turn of foot to score by a length, with $6 chance Conscience finishing a further 1¼ lengths away in third.
Bedggood said the filly’s preparation had already been stop-start since her maiden victory at Pakenham on November 28.
“I was keen to run her in a three-year-old benchmark 64 at Cranbourne a fortnight after Pakenham and Tony (Ottobre, owner) said we’d put her out,” Bedggood said.
“She had a fortnight at the paddock and he rang me up and said we’re going to send her back.
“She came back with obviously good residual fitness. We gave her a tick over jump out and she trialled up very well.
“Today was a bit of a step into the unknown, coming from a maiden win, and there were a couple of well-credentialed horses there.
“But we were going to find out where she sits amongst the ranks and, I suppose, she was going to sink or swim, and she’s definitely swam.”
By defeating Group 3 winner Military Tycoon and accounting for Esha, who contested the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at her previous start, Jenni The Ninja now appears bound for black-type company.
Markets are open with leading Australian betting sites for Flemington sprint features, giving punters plenty of options going forward.
“I actually haven’t had a look at the calendar,” Bedggood said.
“Me and Tony will have a chat on Monday, I guess, and see how she comes through the run and make a plan.
“She’s a nice filly moving forward and I’m very grateful to have her in my stable.”
The post Jenni The Ninja executes Flemington plan first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
