Pride Of Jenni chasing a third Group 1 win in Saturday’s $3m Australian Cup at Flemington

Pride Of Jenni will return to the scene of her breakout spring triumphs when the Ciaron Maher-trained mare chases a ‘bonus’ win in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington.

Pride Of Jenni will chase another rich win in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

The Ciaron Maher camp will enter bonus territory with Pride Of Jenni in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington.

The six-year-old will chase her third Group 1 win in five starts when she returns to Flemington for the first time since her dual triumph at last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Maher said Pride Of Jenni has already achieved her main autumn aim but the Pride of Dubai mare could still earn more riches in a campaign that has already banked more than $2.1 million for connections.

“Her main target this prep was the All-Star Mile so anything else is a bonus,” Maher said.

“Hopefully she’ll be winning Saturday and maybe the Queen Elizabeth is an option after that but it’s one race at a time.”

Pride Of Jenni produced another epic front-running performance to beat Australian Cup rivals Mr Brightside and Cascadian in the All-Star Mile on March 16.

However, Maher said the mare bounced out of the performance, pleasing the stable last week and again in her latest track gallop at Cranbourne on Tuesday.

“She’s come through it really well,” Maher said.

Pride Of Jenni held a two-length margin over Mr Brightside when the pair met in the All-Star Mile earlier this month. Picture: Getty Images.

“She put her weight straight back on, which is a good sign, after raceday and she did a little piece of work on Thursday where she worked well. She had a gallop this morning on the grass.

“Dec Bates rode her and said she felt great so all signs are very good at this stage.”

Pride Of Jenni stepping up to 2000m in the Australian Cup will be a key talking point for punters leading into Saturday’s $3m event.

PRIDE OF JENNI WINS THE ALL-STAR MILE! 🏆 @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/3pibFAiU8E

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 16, 2024

Maher said the time had arrived to give the flying mare another test over the trip after she failed over 2000m in heavy ground at Randwick last year.

“She’s had one crack at it before where she was on the back-up and she’s clearly in better form now,” Maher said.

“I’m pretty confident. I think she’ll run well in whatever you put her in at the moment.

“I suppose it’s a bit of a risk but she’s in great form and, if we were going to do it, now is the time.”

Maher said connections thought about testing Pride Of Jenni in the 2000m range last spring, indicating he harboured long-term thoughts the mare could race at the highest level.

“We were thinking of a Cox Plate last time around but she just took a little while to come to hand,” Maher said.

“We have always had a decent opinion of her but she’s just caught me by surprise a little bit.”

Pride Of Jenni is the $2.80 second favourite behind Mr Brightside at $2.50 in TAB’s latest Australian Cup betting.

Originally published as Pride Of Jenni chasing a third Group 1 win in Saturday’s $3m Australian Cup at Flemington