Pride Of Jenni channelled the brilliance of her 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes demolition with a lead-all-the-way demolition of her Hollindale Stakes rivals to grab a spectacular victory.
The mare excelled in her free-flowing approach during the Gold Coast’s Saturday feature race, establishing an estimated 16-length lead before the 800m and proving too strong for pursuers.
From the trailing group, Birdman ($4.20) made ground to be beaten three-quarters of a length by Pride Of Jenni ($3.30 fav), followed by She’s A Hustler ($4.60) another 2-1/4 lengths away.
Half Yours ($3.80), the Melbourne Cup winner, hit the line gamely for fourth, beaten but unexposed.
Trainer Ciaron Maher marvelled at Pride Of Jenni’s display and revealed he had spelled her after placing fifth in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick recently, on the back of Melbourne seconds 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.”
Maher gave credit to longstanding jockey Declan Bates for timing the eight-year-old mare’s effort impeccably from the front.
“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.”
Pride Of Jenni ventured to Queensland once before last winter, recording a distant finish in the Doomben Cup (2000m).
Maher affirmed interest in the Group 1 again, forecasting better results.
“She looks in better form this year,” he said.
In recent seasons, the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) has been a fine lead-in for the Doomben Cup, including successes by Antino 12 months ago and Zaaki in 2021.
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