Star mare kicks off Spring campaign with Cranbourne jumpout
Pride Of Jenni was run over late in a Cranbourne jumpout on Monday morning, but those associated with the star mare considered it the perfect Spring pipe-opener.
The 800-metre hit-out was Pride Of Jenni's first public appearance since her Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes win and she raced in a three-wide position on the speed and held a slender lead until inside the final 100m when reeled in by Fortunate Kiss.
The rising seven-year-old, a daughter of Pride Of Dubai, was never extended at any stage by regular rider Declan Bates who was happy with the performance, as was trainer Ciaron Maher.
"Ten out of 10, that's we got from Ciaron Maher," owner Tony Ottobre told SENTrack.
"She done what she had to do, it's been pretty wet out there and we don't want to extend her too much.
"First trials are always just a nice, easy blowout and Ciaron was very happy.
"Declan, I spoke to him, and he just said she was probably a bit more relaxed than she normally is going to the barriers but once she jumped out she got serious.
"She's in a really good headspace. Usually, she'd be a bit more toey and jumpy going towards the barriers but now I think she knows she's the queen and she goes there nice and calmly."
Monday morning's jumpout was the first of two trials before her resumption in the $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 31.
"It will be probably a two-week break between trials and then she'll go to the races two weeks later," Ottobre said.
"Her next trial will be a strong hit out. Ciaron knows what he's doing and he'll trial her the way he thinks she should be trialled and then we'll go from there."
The Memsie Stakes will be the first start of a campaign that is being geared towards the $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19 and the $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) seven days later.
