‘Bit of banter good for racing’: Pride Of Jenni owner Tony Ottobre builds up rivalry with Via Sistina

Tony Ottobre has no problem spicing up the spring carnival with some good-humoured sledging, saying Pride Of Jenni is fitter and better while Via Sistina still has a fair bit to prove.

Tony Ottobre (right) with Ciaron Maher after Pride Of Jenni won the 2023 All-Star Mile. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Pride Of Jenni’s owner Tony Ottobre has no problem spicing up the spring carnival with “a bit of banter” which he believes helps make racing fun.

Ottobre wears his heart on his sleeve and in the past has used his social media account to have a dig at champion jockey James McDonald after Pride Of Jenni towelled up Via Sistina (McDonald) in an incredible frontrunning romp to win by 6½ lengths in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April.

"It is one of the most remarkable performances ever seen on any track in the history of Australian racing."

Bruce McAvaney on Pride Of Jenni's Queen Elizabeth domination. pic.twitter.com/9d4l9tudYR

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 13, 2024

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Ottobre said Via Sistina, who won the Group 1 Winx Stakes when resuming last Saturday, still has a “fair bit to prove” and Pride Of Jenni “remains at the top of the tree” ahead of a highly anticipated spring carnival rematch.

Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni, who will resume in Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, retains Cox Plate favouritism at $4 with Chris Waller’s mare Via Sistina at $4.50.

“I am in this industry to have fun,” Ottobre told Racenet.

“A bit of banter has to be there, otherwise it’s not fun.

“Racing is fun and so should the talking be fun, it shouldn’t be serious.

“People have got their opinions, you can go against their opinions as long as you do it in a clever way.

“That’s what it’s all about. I quite enjoy the banter.

“The NSW versus Victorian thing is always good fun.

“(Chris) Waller and his crew like to come down to Melbourne and pinch a few of our races and take the prizemoney back up to Sydney.

“It’s good when we go up to their place and knock them off.”

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One of the best winning rides you will ever see! Declan Bates leads Pride Of Jenni to victory in the Queen Elizabeth 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XsX2PapALS

— TAB (@tabcomau) April 13, 2024

All of Ottobre and his wife Lynn’s horses carry the name “Jenni”, in honour of their daughter Jennifer who died from a brain tumour in 2015.

Ottobre won’t hear of Pride Of Jenni not being the top of the pops in Australian racing.

He said Via Sistina’s Winx Stakes win was impressive, but the Waller mare still has much to prove.

“Let’s not forget, when they met last time, Via Sistina was 6½ lengths behind my horse,” Ottobre said.

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“She (Via Sistina) has got a fair bit to prove at the moment.

“As far as I am concerned, we are at the top of the tree.

“And she (Via Sistina) has got to prove she can run us down.

“Until she does, we are the top.

“It was a very good ride by the jockey on Saturday (Kerrin McEvoy), Via Sistina got the best run and covered less ground than anybody else.

“Good luck to her, she got them on the post.

“It’s good for racing.”

Via Sistina wins the Winx Stakes! She's in for a MASSIVE Spring 🔥 @[e-mail]/WNpMfXcEAj

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2024

Pride Of Jenni is the $2 favourite to win the Memsie (1400m) on resuming this Saturday, with old sparring partner Mr Brightside the $3 second pick.

Mr Brightside got the better of Pride Of Jenni when Ottobre’s mare resumed over 1400m in the autumn, with Mr Brightside getting the chocolates in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield in February.

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But Ottobre said all the scientific data on Pride Of Jenni shows she is going better for her spring return.

“She is ready to win,” Ottobre said.

“She is better than when she raced in the Orr Stakes.

“She is fitter and she is better.

“They have got the data on the horse, where she is at, and at the moment the data says she is a bit better than she was in the Orr.

“We hope to get into a nice spot and see if they can chase us down.

“But I don’t think they will be able to on Saturday, she is in a very nice spot.”

Originally published as ‘Bit of banter good for racing’: Pride Of Jenni owner Tony Ottobre builds up rivalry with Via Sistina