Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
On a day of great racing at Randwick, bonny Trelawney Stud-bred mare Pride Of Jenni was the undoubted star with her dashing display to win the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) under another daring Declan Bates ride.
The duo are an inseparable combination as Bates allowed the Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni to do as she pleased.
Upping the tempo substantially after the first furlong to run her rivals ragged, Pride Of Jenni had a remarkable margin of 91m on her rivals with 700m to run, and try as they might, she still had six and a half lengths to spare On Via Sistina and Mr Brightside at the finish.
Winning trainer Ciaron Maher was as stunned as the crowd, describing the performance as "phenomenal".
"That's the biggest win I've ever seen, let alone had anything to do with," Maher said.
"(Leading by 40 lengths) in a Group One, and not just any Group One.
"I don't think it will get any better than that.
"I knew she'd get better the more she raced at 2000m, but my God, that was mind-boggling to know a horse could even do that."
When asked if he was waiting for Pride Of Jenni to stop after going so fast, Maher said he had complete faith in Bates.
"I never doubt Dec. She must have given him some amazing feel," Maher said.
However, Bates didn't get a chance to savour the moment, too consumed in trying to get Pride Of Jenni to relax beneath him.
He said he didn't set out to be so far in front but was over-ruled by the horse.
"Over the last six months, the times I've ridden her we had a nice rhythm with each other and when I'd ask her to come back, she'd come back a bit," Bates said.
"Today, when the horse on the outside came to her, she grabbed the bit and she didn't drop it at any point.
"I couldn't tell you what the sectionals were, generally once we're doing it nice and smoothly, I'm aware.
"Today, I just knew we were going quicker than I wanted to so it was a matter of coming back, coming back, and she said 'nah I'm going'. She knows better."
A daughter of Pride Of Dubai, Pride Of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is out of the O’Reilly mare Sancerre, who was prepared by Cambridge trainer Tony Pike to win on four occasions for the Stud.
The star mare stems from a family fashioned over generations at the famed Kiwi nursery, which has been in the Taylor family’s ownership since 1993, having been established by Seton Otway in the 1930s.
Group Two winner Real Success, the taproot of star Trelawney Stud graduates Vouvray, Loire, A Touch Of Ruby and Pride Of Jenni and many others around them was one of the first families the Taylors bought into upon taking ownership of Trelawney.
Pride Of Jenni was sold at the Sydney Classic Sale for A$100,000 through the Segenhoe Stud draft, where she was purchased by Tony and Lynn Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud.
Sancerre has a yearling filly by Per Incanto which has been retained by the Taylors and is in foal to Cambridge Stud stallion Hello Youmzain.
Pride Of Jenni is now the winner of seven races with a further 10 placings and A$8,654,240 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk