The Group 1 race for mares on Victoria Derby Day will likely be less of a war of attrition due to the absence of Pride Of Jenni.
Pride Of Jenni, who claimed the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in 2023 and again last year, was expected to be a star attraction on Saturday.
However, a slow recovery from a leg infection means the prominent mare will not be participating in the third Group 1 contest of the day.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Surfin’ Bird is set to make her Group 1 debut, having recently triumphed in the Group 2 Crystal Mile over the same distance and track last weekend.
While Pride Of Jenni’s presence always adds considerable excitement, Waterhouse acknowledged that her non-participation will make the challenge for Surfin’ Bird and the other mares in the race somewhat easier.
“It’s a huge difference and for all the mares in it,” Waterhouse commented. “The pressure won’t be on in the same way, and it should be a more sensibly run race.”
Now a five-year-old, Surfin’ Bird has been a slow-developing mare, but she has managed to secure seven wins from her twelve starts.
This time last year, Surfin’ Bird was competing in benchmark grade races and finished a fading fifth in the Group 3 Hong Jockey Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day, despite being the heavy favourite.
“She’s almost a different horse,” Waterhouse noted. “Last year she would have been beaten on Saturday, but this year, she’s a year older, more mature, bigger and stronger.”
“I love backing up horses. You only have to look at the horse (Cosmic Crusader) that won the Cox Plate.”
“She has thrived this preparation and her win last week was really gutsy I thought. I really love it when they roll up their sleeves and get on with the job and I liked the way she found the line and has gone ahead since then. She seems very happy and she doesn’t have to improve a lot. I think the Empire Rose is a winnable race this year.”
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