Trainer Ciaron Maher declares Pride Of Jenni could ‘win by five or get beaten by 10’ in the Champions Mile

Champions Day at Flemington is filled with a number of storylines but perhaps none greater than how top mare Pride Of Jenni performs in the Champions Mile.

Ciaron Maher hopes his iron mare Pride Of Jenni has got one more shot left in the locker after a gruelling spring campaign, but is wary that she could “win by five (lengths) or get beaten by 10” in Saturday’s Group 1 $3m Champions Mile (1600m).

A solid gallop and favourable data surrounding her general wellbeing convinced Maher she was on track for what will be her sixth run this campaign in her Champions Mile defence.

Her two previous campaigns – her most successful ones – have been four starts in the autumn and five last spring.

But he is mindful about how taxing her campaign has been so far this spring.

“She will either win by five or she’ll get beaten by 10,” Maher said.

“She is very brave and she has come through it really well, which is a surprise because she has had a fairly busy time.

“She did a piece of work (this week) and it was very similar and all her data seemed quite good. She looks particularly well, but it is an ask.”

Asked about owner Tony Ottobre’s decision to dump Pride Of Jenni’s regular jockey Declan Bates for Ben Melham, Maher said “that happens (in racing) … but Dec has a great association with her.”

Owner Tony Ottobre has made the call to replace Declan Bates with Ben Melham for the Champions Mile

Bates has ridden Pride Of Jenni in her past 12 starts, including Group 1 wins in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Champions Mile and Empire Rose Stakes.

Maher said Another Wil, who will be ridden by Bates, had “bounced” through his strong Group 2 Damien Oliver win and would be highly competitive in the Champions Mile.

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“He is backing up (from last Saturday) … I think he has bounced through the run from the other day. He is a very good horse.”

His third string Champions Mile contender, New Energy, “hasn’t really fulfilled his potential yet here in Australia, but I think he is improving”.

“He was a colt but we gelded him … he is going better this prep. He will enjoy a good tempo on Saturday.”

Maher will tackle each of the three Group 1s on Saturday with three runners, though he concedes if Chris Waller’s Via Sistina produces a performance anywhere near her Cox Plate rating in the Champions Stakes, they will all be running for second.

“If she (Via Sistina) runs to the form, she will beat them,” he said. “But when you run a peak like that (in a Cox Plate), then sometimes you never know.”

He has Caulfield Cup winner Duke Du Sessa, Future History and Nugget in the Champions Stakes, while superstar mare and The Everest winner Bella Nipotina, I Am Unstoppable and Estriella will compete in the Champions Sprint.

“Bella’s Bella,” Maher said, confident she can continue her dominant form following back to back wins in The Everest and Russell Balding Stakes.

Originally published as Trainer Ciaron Maher declares Pride Of Jenni could ‘win by five or get beaten by 10’ in the Champions Mile