Pride Of Jenni crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year

After dazzling Australian racing with her bold frontrunning style, superstar mare Pride Of Jenni has been crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year in Adelaide on Tuesday night.

Pride Of Jenni was crowned the Australian Racehorse of the Year on Tuesday night. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

After dazzling Australian racing with her bold frontrunning style, superstar mare Pride Of Jenni has been crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year in Adelaide on Tuesday night.

Prepared by top trainer Ciaron Maher, Pride Of Jenni won the 2023/24 title ahead of Without A Fight, Riff Rocket and Mr Brightside.

The brilliant mare delivered one of the most breathtaking performances in Australian racing history with her win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April, along with back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Empire Rose (1600m) and Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington in November.

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The seven-year-old, who has developed an absorbing rivalry with fellow champion galloper Mr Brightside, also won the $4m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield in March.

All four of her outstanding wins were under the riding of regular hoop Declan Bates.

The top gong wasn’t the only honour for Pride Of Jenni on the night, the mare was also named Champion Middle Distance Horse.

She secured that title ahead of Mr Brightside, Romantic Warrior, Fangirl and Alligator Blood.

Owner Tony Ottobre was thrilled with the result, and was in Adelaide to accept both awards in front of a packed crowd at the Wolf Blass Event Centre at Morphettville.

“We hoped (to win Horse of the Year), and that’s all you can do, is hope, and it’s come through,” Ottobre said.

“It’s not expected, we were happy to win the Middle Distance Horse of the Year and this is actually a bonus now, we were thrilled with Middle Distance and Horse of the Year is incredible.”

Ottobre credited the brilliance of leading trainer Maher, who took Pride Of Jenni to another level after beginning her career with David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins, then having another stint under Simon Wilde.

“He’s had a great influence, she arrived there after she had been to two other trainers, they did a good job, but she just needed that little bit of an edge, and Ciaron was able to provide that,” he said.

“He’s got great systems in place, and I think all good trainers need to have systems in place, so that if someone’s missing someone is always going to be there to cover what needs to be done. He’s got a great bunch of staff.”

After claiming the remarkable Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double, Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained stayer Without A Fight was a worthy winner of the Champion Stayer of the Year award.

Without A Fight won the Champion Stayer award. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Rising Godolphin star Broadsiding was crowned the Champion Two-Year-Old, with trainer James Cummings in Adelaide to accept the award.

The colt was brilliant in winning the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm, while he also won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

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Stefi Magnetica was awarded Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, the sprinter – trained by Bjorn Baker – won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June, which was young gun Zac Lloyd’s first Group 1 win as a jockey.

In what was an emotional result, Riff Rocket was named Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding.

The Chris Waller-trained gelding passed away in September after succumbing to colic.

Riff Rocket won the Group 1 Victorian Derby (2500m), Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m).

Waller and owner Debbie Kepitis were both in attendance to accept the award, with Kepitis reading an emotional statement.

“Receiving this recognition for Riff Rocket evokes many feelings for us. We are so proud of him, and can’t believe the journey he took us on,” Kepitis said.

“It takes a village, to win one of these awards, and we thank them all, Chris Waller and his amazing team, all Riff Rocket’s jockeys including J-Mac, Nash, Craig, Kerrin, Jye McNeil, the spellers and pre-trainers.

“He was born, raised and broken in at Coolmore. We are saddened to have lost him, but so lucky to have enjoyed him for his short life.”

Star sprinter Imperatriz was crowned Champion Sprinter.

Chris Waller was Champion Group 1 trainer for the 12th straight year. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

The Kiwi mare won five Group 1s, saluting in the Moir Stakes (1000m), Manikato Stakes (1200m), VRC Champions Sprint (1200m), Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m).

All of her Group 1 victories came under the steering of champion hoop Opie Bosson for trainer Mark Walker.

Maher’s name was once again front and centre when Stern Idol was awarded the Champion Jumper of the season.

Stern Idol won the Mosstrooper Steeplechase (3500m), Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) and Brierly (3450m).

Master trainer Waller was named Champion Group 1 Trainer after notching 12 Group 1 wins over the course of the season.

It was the 12th consecutive year that Waller has won the award.

Champion jockey James McDonald won 14 Group 1 races across the season, and that saw him crowned Champion Group 1 Jockey for a fourth-straight year.

Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible was awarded Australian Champion Sire for the third time.

Originally published as Pride Of Jenni crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year