Eighteen months after her racing career appeared over, Pride Of Jenni will attempt to create history when she lines up in the March 7 All-Star Mile (G1) at Flemington Racecourse.
The now 8-year-old mare was retired following a bleeding attack when finishing last in the Champions Mile (G1) at Flemington in November 2024, prompting owner Tony Ottobre to call time on her career. However, Pride Of Jenni returned the following March with a first-up victory over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) and went on to add another three wins through 2025, including a second triumph in the Empire Rose Stakes (G1).
Ciaron Maher said the mare had thrived ahead of her latest return as she attempts to become the first horse to win the All-Star Mile twice.
"I'm rapt with the way she has progressed through the prep," Maher said. "Tony (Ottobre) kept her active when she was down at his property and she came here in really good order and she will strip pretty close to her ideal race weight. She's amazing how evergreen she is. Her endeavour, her action, her whole demeanour. Dec (Bates) sat on her on Monday and said she wanted to rip from the 600 meters. He doesn't say a lot, but when he's saying that you know you're pretty close to the mark."
Maher said he was confident Pride Of Jenni could run well first-up, noting her recent preparations had been geared towards resuming over distances of 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) and beyond.
"She's unbelievable," Maher said. "Even what she did in the spring. She continues to surprise with her longevity, her endeavour, her will that she has. The team have done a super job with her and continue to do that, and Tony and his team need to take a fair bit of credit as well. She seems as good as ever."
Zahra confident weight won't halt Tentyris in Newmarket
Mark Zahra believes Tentyris has the talent to overcome a hefty impost when the colt attempts to claim Saturday's Newmarket Handicap (G1) at Flemington. The 3-year-old son of Street Boss will carry 57 kilograms (approx. 125 pounds), meaning he must equal the weight-carrying record for a horse of his age set by Ajax in 1938 to win the famous straight-track sprint. Godolphin's Tentyris arrives in peak form, having returned from a successful spring campaign, highlighted by his Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1) win, to claim the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1) first-up Feb. 14.
"I don't think weight has got much to do with it as I'm a heavyweight jockey," Zahra said. "All the ratings' gurus might think a bit different, but I worked him Monday and he absolutely flew. He's flying, so I don't think the weight will stop him."
Zahra returned to race riding at Caulfield Heath March 4 after an injury-enforced break, pushing his recovery to ensure he could partner his key autumn rides. He narrowly missed returning in time for Observer's win in the Feb. 28 Australian Guineas (G1) but was determined to be back for Tentyris.
"If it had of been any other time, I probably would have taken my time with it, but I just couldn't afford to," Zahra said. "The horses I had lined up for autumn, was unbelievable. I was trying to get back for Observer, but the doctor said that was five weeks and that might be pushing it a bit, but when you have a goal, for a horse like this, it definitely helps getting up early, getting to physio twice a week and that sort of stuff."
Maher upbeat on Gringotts' Stakes return
Maher is satisfied with the condition of Gringotts ahead of his return in Saturday's Canterbury Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse, though a rival jockey's comments have highlighted the strength of the opposition. Nash Rawiller partnered Gringotts to victories in the Big Dance and The Gong late last campaign and had been booked to reunite with the gelding on Saturday. However, after discussions with Maher, Rawiller opted to remain aboard Lady Shenandoah, who he rode when she finished third in the Expressway Stakes (G2). Tommy Berry, who has ridden Gringotts to three wins including last year's George Ryder Stakes (G1), will instead take the ride.
"Nash was riding Gringotts, and he said, 'Lady Shenandoah was in second gear the other day. Do you mind if I step off and step on (her)?' I said, 'No, Gringotts will probably want the run anyway,'" Maher said. "Tommy has ridden him plenty of times as well and had good success on him, so it didn't make any difference, really. He can run really well fresh, and he's got a good base on him. He has been up at the beach. But hearing those words out of Nash, and looking at the way Joliestar hit the line too, those two, I wouldn't be surprised if they had his measure (on Saturday).
"He's in good order. He ran in the Liverpool City Cup last time and then the George Ryder. This time he will go Canterbury Stakes to George Ryder. He normally runs very well fresh. He had 61 (kilos) last year in the Liverpool City Cup, and I think he ran the fastest last 600 (meters) for the meeting and was unlucky."
Pride confident Attica can challenge in Randwick Guineas
Trainer Joe Pride believes the market has misread Saturday's Randwick Guineas (G1), insisting the race shapes as a two-horse battle between his group 1 winner Attica and Caulfield Guineas (G1) hero Autumn Boy. The pair resumed in the Hobartville Stakes (G2), where both settled near the rear before producing similar late efforts. Autumn Boy charged down the outside to finish second behind Ninja, while Attica worked home along the inside to finish fourth.
Attica drew the outside barrier when acceptances were declared Wednesday. The Chris Waller-trained Autumn Boy tightened to and Sheza Alibi are two of the favorites.
"I can't line Peter Moody's filly (Sheza Alibi) up, and that's not to say she's not a chance. I'm just struggling to line her up," Pride said. "But I would have thought Autumn Boy or Attica would be winning the Randwick Guineas. I think my boy will, but I'm not going to take Chris' horse for granted because he is a good colt."
Attica is already proven over the Randwick mile, having claimed the Dulcify Stakes over the Guineas course and distance before going on to secure the Spring Champion Stakes (G1) during the spring.
"It has all gone exactly to the script I have wanted it to, and generally when you look back and you've won a group 1, you look back at the preparation and go, 'well it just all went to plan, didn't it,'" Pride said. "We're not there yet, but that's the way it has felt this preparation. Every step of the way he has met the markers I have wanted him to be at, and that makes his job easier because it's uninterrupted."
