Pride Of Jenni runs them ragged in G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Posted by RS NewsWire at 5:50pm on April 13th

Frontrunning mare Pride Of Jenni and jockey Declan Bates have pulled off one of the most incredible feats ever seen on a Sydney racetrack with a stunning catch-me-if-you-can win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

Known for establishing big mid-race leads, Pride Of Jenni was expected to be a handful of lengths ahead of her rivals turning for home but nobody predicted what would transpire.

The mare put her customary ten-length lead on nearest rival Mr Brightside around the 1400-metre mark, then continued to surge further ahead and by the time she was at the 700 metres, the rest of the field was almost 100 metres behind her.

She was so far in front that despite tiring late, Pride Of Jenni blitzed nearest chaser Via Sistina by 6-1/2 lengths at the finish with Mr Brightside, who carted the field up to the tearaway leader, holding down third, another 1-3/4 lengths away.

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 2000, 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.”

There was a post-script to the race with stewards questioning jockey Craig Williams about his tactics and why he didn’t give chase sooner on Mr Brightside, who was positioned second in the run.

Williams said he didn’t want his horse to be a sacrificial lamb and was focused on giving Mr Brightside the best chance to finish in the best position.

“I needed something to help me go, rather than if I have to push him…then we’re definitely not riding the horse to instructions and I know we wouldn’t get the best result from him,” Williams told stewards.

James Mcdonald rode betting site favourite Via Sistina, who settled among the tailenders and had one word for the way the race panned out: “Embarassing.”

Via Sistina was one of three Chris Waller-trained horses in the race and the champion trainer came away perplexed, questioning why the rival riders didn’t respond to Pride Of Jenni’s runaway tactics.

“From my perspective it was disappointing,” Waller said.

“To get that far off them, I don’t know why they let the race unfold like that.

“Most of my boys (jockeys) said it was out of their control, but I think they all said that.

“I’m not going to take anything away from Pride Of Jenni, she’s a super mare so well done to her. Hopefully we get a rematch in the spring.”

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th