A raucous Moonee Valley crowd cheered Pride Of Jenni back into the winner’s stall as the mare produced another stirring front-running display in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes.
With regular rider Declan Bates reunited in the saddle, Pride Of Jenni ($3.60) dictated terms early and found plenty to beat odds-on favourite Treasurethe Moment ($1.50) by 1-¾ lengths. Attrition ($21) filled third, nearly four lengths further back.
Trainer Ciaron Maher said he had been slightly cautious following her last run in Brisbane’s Group 1 Doomben Cup, but she returned fitter and ready for the 1600m challenge. “She’s just an amazing horse,” Maher said. “Dec knows her perfectly and it was great to see them combine again.”
Bates, who missed out on riding the mare in last year’s Cox Plate, was thrilled to rekindle their partnership. “The Valley crowd gave her some roar — I actually heard it this time,” he said. “She wasn’t the quickest away but once I let her roll, she was never going to be caught.”
For owner Tony Ottobre, the win was a fitting reward for continuing the mare’s career, while Maher declared she was thriving and still has plenty more to give this spring.
