Pride Of Jenni dominant in Feehan Stakes return

Trelawney Stud-bred star Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) showed she remains a force to be reckoned with this spring, producing a dominant first-up performance to win Sunday’s Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield.

The nine-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai made it three consecutive victories in the Feehan Stakes with another display of the front-running brilliance that has made her one of Australasia’s most popular racehorses.

Having her first start since May, Pride Of Jenni was sent out the $1.85 favourite and was quickly into her customary role at the head of proceedings under Declan Bates.

She travelled strongly throughout before putting her rivals to the sword in the straight, going to the line 1.5 lengths clear of the fast-finishing Treasurethe Moment, with Pounding another 1.75 lengths away in third.

Trainer Ciaron Maher was delighted to see his stable star return in such commanding fashion.

“She’s just phenomenal, she’s such a great mare,” Maher said.

“To have her back at this age and arguably in as good a form as ever, it is quite remarkable.”

Bates said the signs leading into Pride Of Jenni’s return had given him plenty of confidence that she had lost none of her ability.

“She’s just made of different stuff,” he said. “We know it now.

“All the signs at home were that she’s as good as ever. I really came here full of confidence with how well she was going.

“Once again, Ciaron Maher produced her on the day. It was for me to just sit and steer and enjoy the ride.

“I didn’t even go for the whip in the end. I felt like I was always winning, but for a horse to race the way she does, time and time again she finds more, which most horses simply don’t have.”

The victory was the 14th of Pride Of Jenni’s career, taking her record to 49 starts for 14 wins and 15 placings, with A$12,818,685 in prize-money.

Owner Tony Ottobre was thrilled to see his star mare back doing what she does best.

“She’s just incredible,” Ottobre said.

“The public love her and there’s a good reason why, and that is what you’ve seen today.

“She’s just enjoying life and she’s showing that by her galloping.”

Pride Of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is out of the O’Reilly mare Sancerre (NZ), who was prepared by Cambridge trainer Tony Pike to win four races for the stud.

Pride Of Jenni stems from a family developed over generations at Trelawney Stud, which has been in the Taylor family’s ownership since 1993 after being established by Seton Otway in the 1930s.

Group Two winner Real Success was among the first families the Taylors bought into after taking ownership of Trelawney and has become the taproot of a highly successful line that includes Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel), Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins) and Pride Of Jenni.

Pride Of Jenni was offered at the Sydney Classic Yearling Sale, where she was sold for A$100,000 through the Segenhoe Stud draft to Tony and Lynn Ottobre’s Cape Schanck Stud.