Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni the early favourite for Saturday’s 2025 Australian Cup at Flemington

Bookmakers have installed Pride Of Jenni as the clear favourite to continue her remarkable return to racing in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington.

Pride Of Jenni has opened as the favourite to continue her stunning comeback in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington.

Pride Of Jenni was retired after bleeding in the Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington in the spring but returned with a brilliant first-up win in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was narrowly beaten by Godolphin galloper Cascadian in last year’s Australian Cup but has opened as a $2.50 top pick to go one better in 2025.

Her stablemate Middle Earth, a strong winner of the Australian Cup Prelude at his first outing for Maher, is the $4.50 second pick.

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Chris Waller’s sole entry Atishu is one of three runners at $6 in Australian Cup betting along with Light Infantry Man and Zardozi.

Atishu finished 3-½ lengths from Tom Kitten when fifth in the Group 1 All-Star Mile last time out but is a Group 1 winner at Flemington and ran third in last year’s Australian Cup.

Light Infantry Man was third in the All-Star Mile but will have his first run over 2000m or further since his unplaced effort in the Group 2 Q22 in Brisbane last winter.

Three-year-old Zardozi will tackle the older horses in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

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Zardozi gave too much start before running on well for second to Pride Of Jenni in the Peter Young Stakes but won the VRC Oaks at Flemington in 2023.

The $2.5 million Australian Cup has drawn 14 nominations, including Feroce, who will attempt to become the first three-year-old to win the weight-for-age feature since Super Cool in 2013.

Feroce would join former superstars Saintly and Dulcify as three-year-old winners of the Australian Cup should he overcome the older horses on Saturday.

The Australian Cup nominations feature seven Group 1 winners but the deadline for entries has been extended until 10am on Tuesday.

Originally published as Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni the early favourite for Saturday’s 2025 Australian Cup at Flemington