‘As good as ever’: Jenni primed for Feehan hat-trick
The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) kicks off her spring campaign this Sunday at Caulfield, with the four-time Group One winner set to contest the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) – a race she has won the past two years.
Maher’s national assistant trainer, Jack Turnbull, said the mare has never been better, which is quite remarkable, give she is now nine years of age and with 48 starts under her belt.
Pride Of Jenni has been working the house down. She placed fourth behind Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) in an 800-metre jumpout at Cranbourne on August 31, before dominating a 1200-metre jumpout at the same venue on September 14.
“It’s cliché but she’s going as good as ever. Her last jumpout was probably the best we’ve ever seen of her, and she’s just in a really good place,” Turnbull told Racing.com on Monday.
“It would be great for her to go back and win another Feehan and it sets herself up for a big spring.
“She’s made of cast iron.
“She knows her job. She’s got to a point now, given she is a mature-age mare, she’s easier to manage. Early days she was quite hard to train, and fierce in her gallops, but now she’s softened and knows the score.”
Turnbull said Pride Of Jenni may only have a few more starts before being retired, so he and the team will “soak it up”.
“It’s at the stage where you’re just trying to take it in and absorb her brilliance, because this could be her last preparation, we don’t know,” he said.
Pride Of Jenni beat Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in the 2024 Feehan Stakes, and the pair have met on several occasions. Lindsay Park’s champion will again square off against her old sparring partner on Sunday, as long as the track isn’t too firm.
Once again, Pride Of Jenni will be aimed towards the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) – a race she won in 2023 and 2025. The A$1-million event for fillies and mares will be run at Flemington on October 31. - racing.com
