The MRC All Star Mile (1600m) might not carry Black Type, but with $3.75million in prizemoney it was the richest race run in Australia on Saturday and Pride of Dubai mare Pride of Jenni was in scintillating form to outgun the favourite Mr Brightside, who was looking to repeat his victory in the race last year.
Last spring Pride of Jenni soared to new heights winning the Group I VRC Empire Rose Stakes and then the Group I VRC Cantala Stakes on a seven day back up at Flemington and it’s safe to say she’s come back after a summer break even better.
On this day last year, Pride of Jenni ran second beaten a head by Espiona in the Group I ATC Coolmore Classic as a 30-1 shot and 12 months on she is right up there with the very best horses in the land.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Declan Bates, Pride of Jenni was second at her first run back from a spell in the Group I MRC CF Orr Stakes last month to Mr Brightside and was out for revenge in the All Star Mile.
She set a hectic pace in front and could not be caught, stopping the lock at 1.35.22 seconds with Mr Brightside two lengths behind her.
For racing fans of my vintage there is only one other horse we’ve seen that can do what she does and that’s Vo Rogue.
Maher indicated Pride of Jenni may attempt to stretch her speed out over further and might join his team for the Group I Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 30.
"She is quite special because you don't get horses that can do that," Maher said.
"Most horses have a 600-metre sprint but she seems like she can do it for half a mile or 1000 metres.
"She's unbelievable.
"There are obviously options in Sydney (and) the Australian Cup.
"Tony has always been very keen to get her to 2000 metres. We were half contemplating a Cox Plate last year, so she'll be hard to beat in whatever she goes in."
Maher has the utmost faith in Declan Bates, who has ridden Pride of Jenni in her past five starts and has found the key to her.
"He understands her, and you've got to have the confidence to ride her like that," Maher said.
"I said, 'don't worry about that, you know the horse, trust yourself and the horse, just ride the race' and he said, 'I just want to be smooth'. He never rides her bad."
For Declan Bates, Pride of Jenni is a game changer and he can’t thank owner Tony Ottobre enough for the chance to partner the star mare.
"Tony, he has changed my life basically giving me this opportunity," Bates said.
"To repay the faith and pull off the rides and execute them, it's so satisfying.
"This prep, every time I've sat on her back, she has certainly improved from last spring. I didn't want to say that out loud because of what she did last spring and not say that she might have come back better, but I think that is the case.
"She is doing it, sustaining a gallop, it's so impressive."
Pride of Jenni has the overall record of six wins and nine placings from 27 starts with prizemoney of $5million.
A $100,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Segenhoe Stud draft for Tony and Lynn Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud, Pride of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is the first foal of winning O’Reilly mare Sancerre, a daughter of Group I Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray.
Sancerre has a yearling filly by Per Incanto (USA) and is in foal to Cambridge Stud stallion Hello Youmzain (Fr).
Pride of Jenni is one of four Group I winners for Pride of Dubai, who covered 102 mares last spring at Coolmore at a fee of $27,500 enjoying a resurgence of interest after a couple of years when he struggled for numbers, but there is no doubting when he gets a good horse, it’s a seriously good horse!
