Pride Of Jenni jockey Declan Bates wary of All-Star Mile turning into a drag race
Lead us at your peril. That is the warning from Pride Of Jenni’s jockey Declan Bates heading into the All-Star Mile at Caulfield.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
To lead or not to lead, that is the question.
Group 1 jockey Declan Bates is unfazed about the All-Star Mile opposition, especially those daring to turn the $3.75m autumn showcase into a 1600m drag race.
“For me to end up not leading, something has got to go quick,” Bates said.
“For something to lead me they going to want to go pretty hard, in order for me to be relaxed enough to take a sit behind them, we’ll work that out as we go.”
• Mr Brightside will be in striking distance of All-Star Mile threat
Pride Of Jenni, a $3.70 second favourite with TAB, Desert Lightning ($26), Attractable ($34), Buffalo River ($34) and Puntura ($126), are all frontrunners in their own right.
Reigning All-Star Mile champion Mr Brightside ($1.80), Ayrton ($10) and Cascadian ($13), runner-up in the race last year all benefit from a genuine tempo on Saturday at Caulfield.
Pride Of Jenni has been a dream horse for Bates after they combined to create Melbourne Cup Carnival history last spring winning two Group 1s seven days apart.
The tough mare denied Mr Brightside in the second Group 1 success, the Champions Mile.
“I’ve won three Group 1s in my career so far,” Bates said.
“She’s definitely special and hopefully we’re not finished yet.
“She’s got more nice races in her, she’s a horse you dream of getting on, so I’m very lucky … I hope we’re not done yet.”
• Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Caulfield
Mr Brightside unleashed a big finish to mow down Pride Of Jenni on the post in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) last month at Caulfield.
Pride Of Jenni is expected to be ridden confidently and boldly again on Saturday.
“Her work at home has been spot on and she goes into Saturday into tip top shape,” Bates said.
“Just a matter of riding her where she’s comfortable and keeping her in a nice rhythm.
“She’s got the high cruising speed, it’s just a matter of letting her use that speed but in a nice controlled manner.
“I don’t think it’s handlebars down, but I doubt we’ll be going slow.”
Buffalo River, trained by Michael Moroney, is expected to be prominent in the speed battle.
The $34 outsider finished a head behind Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni in the CF Orr.
Buffalo River placed third last start also behind Mr Brightside in the Futurity Stakes.
Moroney tempered suggestions of the All-Star Mile being an all-out speed assault, as few would be able to match Pride Of Jenni and Buffalo River sectionals.
“They’d have to go pretty quick for Pride Of Jenni and our horse to not be first and second I would think,” Moroney said.
“They have got the toughness to keep going, at that rate too, the other ones I think can go at that pace but for how long?
“If they try and chase them, they usually break their hearts, if they get too far back they got to make too long a run.”
Originally published as Pride Of Jenni jockey Declan Bates wary of All-Star Mile turning into a drag race
Jockey’s surprise Maher insight: ‘He has not changed one bit’:
A jockey who rode for Ciaron Maher in the early days says the trainer has barely changed – although he’s arguably more relaxed now than before he became a star.
Boom colt Growing Empire locked in for The Everest field
Manikato Stakes runner-up Growing Empire has given trainer Ciaron Maher his third starter in the world’s most lucrative sprint event at Royal Randwick next week.