Pride Of Jenni owner Tony Ottobre says he was protecting punters when he queried rival jockey’s tactics in King Charles III Stakes

Pride Of Jenni’s owner Tony Ottobre has explained why he went to stewards about a rival’s tactics and has flagged a potential change of instructions for the Cox Plate.

Pride Of Jenni’s owner Tony Ottobre says he was perfectly entitled to approach stewards about the tactics of a rival Group 1 runner and insists he was aiming to protect punters as much as himself.

Ottobre now feels “the jig is up” with Pride Of Jenni’s bold frontrunning tactics and said he is likely to tweak jockey Declan Bates’ riding instructions on the star mare in the Cox Plate on Saturday.

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He insisted he did the right thing by posing the question to stewards about tactics on Major Beel early in the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained runner pressing forward and making Pride Of Jenni work overtime to lead.

“I was concerned about the tactics employed in the first few hundred metres,” Ottobre told Racenet.

“I’m not only in there (in the stewards’ room) representing myself, I am there representing the punters who want a fair go.

“Pride Of Jenni has got a big fan base now, lots of people would have backed her.

“I owed it to them also to question a few things.

“I just made a concerned opinion, that’s what I went in there for.

“I own the horse, I pay for its upkeep, I pay for the rider, I pay for the trainer.

“I’ve been a jockey, I have ridden in races, so I am entitled to ask questions.”

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Major Beel (yellow) and Pride Of Jenni out wide at the start of the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Ottobre said he approached stewards as trainer Ciaron Maher was “busy winning the Caulfield Cup and The Everest”.

“I was 100 per cent satisfied with the way the stewards heard me out, they did everything correctly. It is what it is,” Ottobre said.

“I was very happy to ask those questions and I am within my rights to do so.”

Epsom winner Ceolwulf with a huge run wins the G1 King Charles III Stakes in front of a record crowd at Randwick!@PrideRacing | @SchofieldChad@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/28oRVnurKS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024

As a result of the King Charles III Stakes runner-up finish behind new star Ceolwulf, Ottobre says he will tinker with Pride Of Jenni’s tactics in the Cox Plate.

Bates may get a new set of riding instructions.

“What we have got now is that the jig is up and the (riding) instructions will be different in future,” Ottobre said.

“You may not see her going out and leading by 10 or 12 lengths or anything like that.

“If anyone does anything like that (Major Beel) again, we certainly won’t be careering away at the start.

“I wasn’t smart enough to think this would happen (Pride Of Jenni being taken on).

“The buck stops with me, not the trainer or the jockey.

“Now, we will leave a bit more gas in the tank towards the end of her races.

“We will have a few more tricks up our sleeve.”

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Tony Ottobre (centre) and Pride of Jenni. Picture: Getty Images.

Ottobre said he has huge respect for one of Pride Of Jenni’s key Cox Plate rivals – regular sparring partner Mr Brightside.

But he queried whether Mr Brightside could run a strong 2000m.

“I think Mr Brightside is a fantastic horse, but I do think the 2000m sort of sees him out,” Ottobre said.

“Unfortunately he has never won a 2000m race, he has fallen just short, and maybe that’s the distance that finds him out.

“I do feel a bit sorry for him in that regard.

“But you know what, he has done a fantastic job, and has won almost $15m.

“The thing is, if you race against Pride Of Jenni, it is either going to make you or break you.

“That’s how I see the opposition when they race against her.”

Earlier this week, Hall Of Famer David Hayes rubbished any suggestions that Mr Brightside – trained by his boys JD, Will and Ben – was suspect at 2000m.

Originally published as Pride Of Jenni owner Tony Ottobre says he was protecting punters when he queried rival jockey’s tactics in King Charles III Stakes