Pride Of Jenni, the reigning Horse of the Year, made a spectacular return to racing, capturing the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.
Saturday’s 1800m weight-for-age race marked the first time Pride Of Jenni had broken through in her eighth attempt at a first-up win.
To celebrate the victory, the Melbourne Racing Club provided racegoers with a free drink ticket upon entry, a refreshing reward on a warm Melbourne afternoon.
Initially retired following a bleeding attack in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington last November, Pride Of Jenni was given time to recover at owner Tony Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud before the decision was made to bring her back to competition.
Despite drifting in the betting market, Pride Of Jenni ($3.80) surged to the front under Craig Newitt and controlled the race, defeating $2.10 betting apps favorite Zardozi by 2-¾ lengths, with Bois D’Argent ($16) finishing another 2-½ lengths back in third.
The Ciaron Maher stable is known for its data-driven approach, and assistant trainer Jack Turnbull revealed that the mare’s recent training metrics matched those recorded during her peak performances.
Turnbull emphasized that while the victory was not at the elite Group 1 level, it was still a significant achievement for the stable.
“Bringing her back to this level after everything she’s been through is a huge credit to the entire team,” Turnbull said.
“We’ve carefully tracked her progress, and her training performances have been outstanding. She’s continued to improve with every challenge we’ve set for her.
“Ciaron watched her work a few times and started thinking, ‘Hang on, she might be more forward than we expected.’
“Each time we upped the workload, she rose to the occasion, including her key workouts last Saturday and Tuesday.
“She’s an extraordinary competitor, a true testament to her own ability.”
Looking ahead, Turnbull confirmed that the stable was considering a run in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 29, with further opportunities in Sydney on the horizon.
“After a dominant win like that, the Australian Cup is an obvious target,” Turnbull said.
“Sydney also presents some attractive Group 1 options, including the Queen Of The Turf if she drops back in distance, or the Queen Elizabeth as a grand final. But for now, we’ll just enjoy this success.
“It’s a fantastic result, and we’re thrilled to see her back at her best.”
