Champion mare Pride Of Jenni has made a stunning return to racing, claiming victory in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.

Saturday’s 1800m weight-for-age contest marked the first time Pride Of Jenni had won in eight previous first-up runs.

To celebrate the occasion, the Melbourne Racing Club rewarded racegoers with a free drink ticket upon entry, a welcome treat on a hot Melbourne afternoon.

Pride Of Jenni had initially been retired following a bleeding attack during the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington last November. However, after a successful recovery at owner Tony Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud, the decision was made to give the talented mare another opportunity on the track.

Despite being easy in the market, Pride Of Jenni ($3.80) dictated terms under Craig Newitt, leading from the outset to score a dominant 2-¾ length victory over $2.10 betting apps favorite Zardozi, with Bois D’Argent ($16) finishing another 2-½ lengths away in third.

The Ciaron Maher team places great emphasis on data analysis, and assistant trainer Jack Turnbull noted that the mare’s recent workout statistics were as strong as those recorded during her peak form.

Turnbull said that while the win was not at Group 1 level, it remained an outstanding achievement for the stable.

“Given everything she’s been through, this is an incredible team effort to get her back to this level,” Turnbull said.

“We track a lot of data on her workouts, and by our standards, she’s been performing exceptionally well. She’s been surpassing expectations every step of the way.

“Ciaron saw her work a few times and kept scratching his head, thinking we might be ahead of schedule.

“Every time we increased the pressure, she responded, including her work last Saturday and again on Tuesday.

“She’s just a remarkable athlete, an absolute credit to herself.”

Turnbull confirmed that the logical next step would be a tilt at the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 29, followed by a possible Sydney campaign.

“After a performance like that, the Australian Cup has to be seriously considered,” Turnbull said.

“Sydney also presents some exciting options, including the Queen Of The Turf if she drops back slightly in distance, or the Queen Elizabeth as the ultimate target. But for now, we’ll just enjoy this win.

“It’s a fantastic result, and we’re thrilled to have her back.”