Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, Pride Of Jenni, is set to face 10 opponents this Saturday at Caulfield in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m), a key lead-up to her next major target in Brisbane.

The Caulfield assignment serves as a stepping stone to the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 24. As topweight under the Quality Handicap conditions, she will carry 61kg—conceding 5.5kg to her nearest rival, Regal Zeus.

Trainer Ciaron Maher says this approach of running in quality handicaps en route to bigger goals has worked for the stable in the past.

“Jenni is in really good order,” Maher told RSN. “She’s enroute up to Queensland and we will have a look at her on Saturday.”

“We have used races like that before, these quality handicaps with the maximum topweight. I think we did it a couple of times with Gold Trip.”

Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip used a benchmark 100 event at Moonee Valley—also under heavy weights—as a springboard to win the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in 2023.

Pride Of Jenni has had two runs this campaign following a bleeding episode in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) last November. She returned with an all-the-way win in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes before finishing down the track in the Australian Cup.

Following that performance, she was given a freshen-up at owner Tony Ottobre’s property before resuming training for Brisbane.

“I think she’s in good order and I think she will bounce back,” Maher said.

She has drawn barrier four and will again be partnered by Craig Newitt, who rode her in both starts this campaign.