PB Lawrence Stakes winner Gentleman Roy to take on Pride Of Jenni in 2024 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield

Super mare Pride Of Jenni and stablemate Mr Brightside stand in Gentleman Roy’s way in the Memsie Stakes but the Lindsay Park-trained galloper has one crucial advantage.

PB Lawrence Stakes winner Gentleman Roy has a date with star mare Pride Of Jenni in Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Racing Photos

Not many gallopers need Pride Of Jenni high-balling in front to perform at their best but one would love the star mare to ramp up the pressure in Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes winner Gentleman Roy will be one of two runners from the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, JD and Will Hayes in the Memsie Stakes along with the resuming Mr Brightside.

The pair will be up against Pride Of Jenni and top Queensland galloper Antino in Victoria’s first Group 1 race of the season.

Gentleman Roy might lack the quality of Mr Brightside and the opening favourite Pride Of Jenni but the in-form galloper has a big fitness advantage on his better performed rivals.

“Pride Of Jenni, they look like they have got her wound up to run hard first-up but it’s going to be a very interesting race because we’ve got a rock-hard fit horse in Gentleman Roy,” Ben Hayes said.

Gentleman Roy can't be run down in the P.B. Lawrence! 💪

That's a FOUR-TIMER at Caulfield for @lindsayparkrace! pic.twitter.com/xiw1oQowko

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 17, 2024

• Nominations extended for 2024 Group 1 Memsie Stakes

Hayes said a strong consistent gallop would give Gentleman Roy his best chance of springing an early spring shock in the $750,000 contest.

“He’s a horse that always needs tempo. He’s not a sit-and-sprint horse,” Hayes said.

“If it’s sit-and-sprint, he’ll always get outsprinted.

“I think the tempo in the Memsie should suit him.

“Buffalo River did a ‘mini Pride Of Jenni’ in the Lawrence Stakes. She (Pride Of Jenni) is better than Buffalo River and it will be harder to run her down but he’s fit and this is basically his grand final.”

TAB decided to keep Gentleman Roy safe at $8 in all-in Memsie Stakes betting.

"I thought it was a great trial for him."

Mr Brightside was terrific through the line behind Here To Shock at the Flemington jump outs this morning 🤩@lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/zaTiIQkMqy

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 22, 2024

While Gentleman Roy is rated 13 points below Pride Of Jenni in the handicap ratings, the son of So You Think has been first past the post in a Group 1 contest.

Gentleman Roy lost last year’s Group 1 CF Orr Stakes on protest to the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Jacquinot.

“He’s a high-class horse and he is a Group 1 ‘winner’ that got relegated (on protest) so he’s shown he is up to that grade,” Hayes said.

“We’re pretty confident he will run really well.”

Mr Brightside all but completed his preparation for his bid for successive Memsie Stakes wins with a jumpout at Flemington last Friday.

Mr Brightside finished second to stablemate Here To Shock in the 800m heat but Hayes said the seven-year-old was not asked for much of an effort in the jumpout.

“Mr B, we’re not changing the way we train him,” Hayes said.

“We trust him, he’s a very good horse and he’ll bring it on race day.”

Originally published as PB Lawrence Stakes winner Gentleman Roy to take on Pride Of Jenni in 2024 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield