Champion trainer Ciaron Maher mulls potential Caulfield comeback for Pride Of Jenni

Superstar Pride Of Jenni could be set for a Melbourne racing comeback as early as Saturday.

Pride Of Jenni before the Champions Mile last spring. Picture: Jay Town/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Superstar Pride Of Jenni could be set for a Melbourne racing comeback as early as Saturday.

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher plans to nominate the comeback mare for the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

The three-time Group 1 and All-Star Mile winner Pride Of Jenni was retired by owner Tony Ottobre after a bleed in the Champions Mile last year.

However, the seven-year-old thrived in the summer break, which prompted a return to Maher last month.

Pride Of Jenni bowled along in trademark style to win a 1000m jump out at Cranbourne last week by five lengths.

The weight-for-age Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) next month at Randwick has been identified as the Sydney autumn target for Pride Of Jenni but Maher remains open-minded on her first start back.

“She is in great order,” Maher said.

“She’s coming up as good as she has.

“She’ll probably hold a (Peter Young) nomination.”

Ottobre, who enjoyed a Flemington win last Saturday with Jennilala in the Group 3 Matron Stakes, is excited to get Pride Of Jenni back.

“She comes first and as you saw the trial the other day, she’s back in a big way,” Ottobre said.

“That’s vindication for us to know we did the right thing.

“She’s happy doing what she’s doing and that’s why she’s back.”

*Rising stars carry local hopes in Adelaide Cup

She's back! 💙💜

Pride Of Jenni returns to the jumpouts with a strong hit-out at Cranbourne 👊🏻@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/GIfIQcRtel

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 2, 2025

Pride Of Jenni spelled at Ottobre’s Cape Schanck property last year after the retirement call.

“We saw her every day, the first horse we saw in the morning and the last horse we saw at night,” Ottobre said.

“We could see there was not much change to her normal demeanour and attitude.

“We kept an eye on her, went through the vets, and there was no reason why she could not keep going.

“She started doing a bit of work around our property and we thought she was back to normal.

“It would be silly of us not to go again with her, even though what was said in the spring (retirement), which was fair enough too, the horse bled, we wanted to look after her.”

Pride Of Jenni has won eight of 35 starts and $10m prizemoney.

A breathtaking 2023-24 season, which culminated in Australian Horse of the Year honours, included the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes, Champions Mile, All-Star Mile and the mind-blowing 6.5-length Queen Elizabeth Stakes triumph.

Pride Of Jenni won the Group 2 Feehan Stakes last spring and placed in the Group 1 Makybe Diva and King Charles III Stakes.

She only battled in the Cox Plate on the quick back-up from the King Charles III in Sydney and then bled in the Champions Stakes.

Originally published as Champion trainer Ciaron Maher mulls potential Caulfield comeback for Pride Of Jenni