Champion mare Pride of Jenni is an exciting horse to watch and she produced her brilliant best at the Gold Coast on Saturday earning a standing ovation from the crowd when she ran her rivals into the ground to win the $500,000 Group II AD Hollindale Cup (1800m).
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Declan Bates, Pride of Jenni has had a little freshen up since her fifth placing in the Group I ATC Queen of the Turf Stakes which followed her epic battle in the Group I VRC Australian Cup when she was beaten a whisker by her stablemate Light Infantry Man (Fr).
Jenni has had a chance to regroup and refresh with Declan Bates sending her to the front as we expect and half way through the race it was apparent she was ON!
The eight year-old daughter of Pride of Dubai was as far as 16 lengths ahead of the field and they were unable to bridge the gap.
The Chris Waller trained import Birdman (IRE) did best to finish second three-quarters of a length back with She’s a Hustler and Half Yours in third and fourth.
"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.
"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).
"She is just a marvel. Have a look at her, she is just a beautiful mare, and she's got a great constitution."
Pride Of Jenni has now had 47 starts for 13 wins, 14 placings and $12.3 million in stakes.
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 best of two winners from winning O’Reilly mare Sancerre, a daughter of Group I Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray.
Her sire Pride of Dubai is unbeatable value this spring at a fee of $22,000.
