Echoing the excitement of her remarkable 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory, Pride Of Jenni produced a frontrunning masterclass to dismantle her Hollindale Stakes foes and notch up a superb win.
In Saturday’s premier event at the Gold Coast, the mare unleashed her signature bold style, opening up to roughly 16 lengths clear entering the final 800m and fending off the chasers.
Birdman ($4.20) rallied strongly from midfield to go down by three-quarters of a length to the favourite Pride Of Jenni ($3.30), with She’s A Hustler ($4.60) 2-1/4 lengths adrift in third.
Half Yours ($3.80), winner of the Melbourne Cup, closed well for fourth and ran with plenty of promise.
Ciaron Maher, the mare’s victorious trainer, was full of praise for Pride Of Jenni after opting to freshen her following fifth in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick a month ago, building on her Melbourne near-misses in the All-Star Mile (1600m) and Australian Cup (2000m).
“I was mindful she had three very tough runs and given how well she went first-up, the only thing you can do is over-train her,” Maher said.
“We’ve just kept her fresh and when she stepped well, you know pretty quick whether you’re on. I thought, oh, that was nice, we might be on today.
“The track – you’d think the Gold Coast would suit her style – and it certainly did.”
The trainer also lauded jockey Declan Bates for his expert navigation of the eight-year-old, establishing rhythm upfront and preserving her well.
“She is sprinting flat out from the 1000. She is used to doing that, being off the bridle a long way out, but super from ‘Dec’ (Bates),” Maher said.
“She is just a marvel. Have a look at her, she is just a beautiful mare, and she’s got a great constitution.”
During last winter’s Queensland campaign, Pride Of Jenni competed once, fading in the Doomben Cup (2000m).
According to Maher, that Group 1 is targeted once more, with sharper condition anticipated.
“She looks in better form this year,” he said.
The Hollindale Stakes (1800m) continues to signal Doomben Cup prospects effectively, evidenced by Antino’s double last year and Zaaki’s in 2021.
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