Pride Of Jenni’s sensational Queen Elizabeth Stakes win should ensure she is voted Horse of the Year

Before last Saturday, horse of the year arguments could have been made for Imperatriz, Without A Fight, Mr Brightside, Fangirl and Alligator Blood … but Pride of Jenni’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes win has settled the debate.

Declan Bates celebrates Pride of Jenni's Queen Elizabeth Stakes win last Saturday (left) and fellow horse of the year contenders Imperatriz (top right) and Without A Fight. Pictures: File

Pride Of Jenni’s spectacular Queen Elizabeth Stakes win also settled the Horse of Year debate.

Her machine-like frontrunning effort to thrash the best weight-for-age horses in training was a performance that should secure her racing’s ultimate honour.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni scored her third Group 1 win of the season at Royal Randwick last Saturday – her record in majors complementing an All-Star Mile success – and she chose the appropriate stage to showcase her exciting talent.

The Championships at Royal Randwick are advertised as the “Grand Finals of Australian Racing” and they did what they are designed for by determining the number one racehorse in the country.

Going into Doncaster-Derby Day on Day One of The Championships, Imperatriz had already won five Group 1 races this season and was in the box seat for Horse of the Year. All she needed was a win the TJ Smith Stakes to lock in the coveted title.

But Imperatriz was beaten out of a place, finishing fourth to Chain Of Lightning, and leaving the door open for Pride Of Jenni.

There will an argument that Pride Of Jenni’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory last Saturday was a freakish performance aided by a lack of initiative mid-race from the beaten jockeys.

But this shouldn’t detract from one of the most extraordinary efforts ever by an equine athlete.

“The ride of the century @decbates!”

Pride Of Jenni leads by a huge margin and wins the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in a bold front running display, in one of the most epic wins at Randwick ever!@[e-mail]/33Ejus8VL3

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2024

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It’s simply unheard of to lead a Group 1 2000m weight-for-age race by about 40 lengths at the halfway mark and still win by nearly seven lengths.

She thrashed one of her main Horse of the Year rivals, Mr Brightside (third), by more than eight lengths.

Mr Brightside has had an outstanding season and won four Group 1 races – Memsie Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes, Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes – and ran second in the Cox Plate, King Charles III Stakes and All-Star Mile.

But in head-to-head clashes with Pride Of Jenni this season, the mare holds a 4-1 lead.

On this score alone, Mr Brightside can’t get Horse of the Year ahead of her.

Fangirl, Without A Fight and Alligator Blood were outstanding at various stages during the season but the trio finished with two Group 1 wins each and they didn’t have enough exposure in the autumn to enhance their Horse of the Year claims.

The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl won twice at Group 1 level in the Winx Stakes and King Charles III Stakes during the spring, the latter the most impressive win at the top level all season – until Pride Of Jenni’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Fangirl looked set to be a major player in autumn before an injury mishap in the stables prematurely ended her campaign.

“Look at her go”.@cwallerracing trained Fangirl ridden by @mcacajamez dominates the inaugural $5m Group 1 King Charles lll defeating Mr Brightside and My Oberon. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/dcIKzmsGxD

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 14, 2023

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Alligator Blood won the Underwood Stakes and Caulfield Stakes during the spring before suffering a potentially career-ending injury earlier this year.

Without A Fight had only three starts for the season but he did complete the coveted Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double. But winning both Cups no longer commands Horse of the Year like it once did and Without A Fight missing autumn due to injury will cost him any chance of claiming the title.

This brings us back to Imperatriz. She won five Group 1 races during the season – the Moir Stakes, Manikato Stakes, Champions Sprint, Lightning Stakes and William Reid Stakes. She was brave running second under 58kg topweight in the Newmarket Handicap.

Queen of the sprint 👑

The first of the three Group 1s and sprinting bragging rights go to IMPERATRIZ who claims the spoils in the Darley Champions Sprint (1200m).

📽 @10SportAU | #StakesDaypic.twitter.com/4ax2aVpF44

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 11, 2023

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The strength of her sprinting opposition in some of her Group 1 wins was questionable but all Imperatriz could do was win.

However, if the lasting impression of Imperatiz is her unplaced run in the TJ Smith Stakes, albeit beaten only a half length into fourth, it is likely to prove telling.

Imperatriz retires having never won a race in Sydney. Pride Of Jenni won majors in Melbourne and Sydney this season.

The form out of Pride Of Jenni’s big-race wins this season is also outstanding.

At Flemington during Cup Week last spring, Pride Of Jenni won the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes, defeating the fast-finishing Atishu.

She's done it again! 🙌

PRIDE OF JENNI can proudly add the title of Champion Miler to its CV with a stunning victory in the Kennedy Champions Mile.

📽 @10SportAU | #StakesDaypic.twitter.com/PeGLJepZfj

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 11, 2023

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A week later, Pride Of Jenni won the Group 1 Champions Mile from Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood and Fangirl. On the same program, Atishu won the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m).

Pride Of Jenni has only had four starts this autumn, winning twice – in the All-Star Mile from Mr Brightside and Cascadian, and her memorable Queen Elizabeth Stakes effort.

It was fitting Pride Of Jenni chose “Grand Final Day” to produce the best performance of the season. She is deserving of Horse of the Year.

Originally published as Pride Of Jenni’s sensational Queen Elizabeth Stakes win should ensure she is voted Horse of the Year