Ciaron Maher admits training Pride Of Jenni can be “rocks or diamonds,” but he’s backing the fan favourite to rediscover her best in Saturday’s $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick.
The eight-year-old returns to Sydney for the first time in a year, chasing consecutive wins after her Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) triumph at Moonee Valley.
“I was a bit dubious first-up because she was a bit heavier than she’d ever been, but she ran just as good,” Maher said. “There’s no in-between — you’re either fighting out the finish or you are out the back.”
Pride Of Jenni hasn’t won back-to-back races since her stunning double in the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival, claiming the Empire Rose Stakes and Champions Mile.
Drawn in barrier eight, she’ll face familiar rivals Ceolwulf, Fangirl and Mr Brightside in a star-studded renewal.