Despite a change in venue and timing, Pride Of Jenni maintained her impressive record in the Feehan Stakes at Caulfield on Sunday.
The popular front-runner emulated Shorengro (1968-70) by becoming a triple winner of the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s feature race, delivering her signature relentless performance.
This marked the inaugural running of the Feehan Stakes at Caulfield, as the race has recently been positioned as a significant support event on Moonee Valley’s Grand Final Eve Friday night fixture. This year’s meeting was relocated to Caulfield while The Valley undergoes reconstruction.
Pride Of Jenni entered this year’s event first-up since her second-place finish in the Group 1 Doomben Cup back in May. Trainer Ciaron Maher expressed his astonishment that the mare, owned by Tony Ottobre, is still performing at such a high level at nine years of age.
“We were very rapt with her since the winter, Tony and his team manage her well and our team certainly know her very, very well,” Maher commented. “I can’t thank the whole team at Cranbourne (enough). That’s where she spends most of her time, but she went to Ballarat for a gallop this prep which all the staff were happy about. She’s just phenomenal. She’s such a great mare. To have her back at this age and arguably in as good a form as ever, it is quite remarkable.”
This third consecutive Feehan Stakes triumph was the 14th victory in Pride Of Jenni’s 49-race career, with the $300,000 prize money pushing her total earnings to just over $12.8 million.
She faced early pressure in the race, as her consistent rival Mr Brightside was ridden assertively from a wide barrier. However, Pride Of Jenni took the lead after 200 metres, with jockey Declan Bates expertly managing her pace.
The $1.85 favourite’s advantage narrowed to approximately two lengths as they approached the home turn, but she found another gear in the straight to secure a 1-1/2 length victory over Treasurethe Moment ($8). Treasurethe Moment rebounded from her Makybe Diva Stakes disappointment. Pounding, the outsider at $71, finished 1-3/4 lengths behind in third.
A significant talking point after the race was the performance of the prominent miler Mr Brightside, who faded significantly in the closing stages and finished behind all other competitors.
Bates lauded the horse who has profoundly impacted his career, celebrating their eighth win together.
“She’s just made of different stuff,” Bates stated. “We know it now. All the signs at home were that she’s as good as ever and I really came here full of confidence at how well she was going. Once again, Ciaron Maher producing her on the day. It was for me just sit and steer and enjoy the ride.”
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