Queen Elizabeth Stakes champ Pride Of Jenni faces a crucial track gallop on Monday
Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes is still an option for reigning champ Pride Of Jenni, with a crucial track gallop on Monday to determine her path ahead of a Queensland campaign.
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Reigning Queen Elizabeth Stakes champ Pride Of Jenni faces a crucial track gallop on Monday to stamp a decision on whether the brilliant mare tries to defend her crown on Saturday in Sydney.
Pride Of Jenni raced flat last start in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
The multiple Group 1 winner, who romped to a record 8.3-length victory in last year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), pulled up well out of the Australian Cup to keep Sydney “open” but suitable Queensland options loom large.
Trainer Ciaron Maher and owner Tony Ottobre will decide her path after Monday’s trackwork at Cranbourne.
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Pride Of Jenni is a $15 chance in all-in Queen Elizabeth markets behind favourite Via Sistina ($1.65), Dubai Honour and Ceolwulf ($8).
Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the plan for Pride Of Jenni would become clearer after Monday.
“Either Queen Elizabeth or we break, have a couple weeks off and then we’re (Group 2) Hollindale (Stakes) into Doomben Cup, so she’ll go up that way,” Turnbull said.
“She will do something on Monday and I guess that will be the point where Ciaron and Tony decide where they go. At this point, not sure.
“It’s still a possibility (the Queen Elizabeth). She’s not lacking fitness, it’s whether or not we want to go there off the run she produced last start (Australian Cup).”
Pride Of Jenni is BACK! 🤩
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 15, 2025
She returns in spectacular style to win the Peter Young Stakes! @cmaherracing@craig_newittpic.twitter.com/kX6e51Wdp0
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Turnbull said Pride Of Jenni seemed “bright” in track gallops last week.
“Her normal track riders were saying she feels as good as ever,” Turnbull said.
Meanwhile, Victorian trainer Gavin Bedggood has confirmed that his pair Jennilala and Just Folk would head to the $500,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 10.
Bedggood has only been in charge of Jennilala for one race – a victory in the Group 3 Matron Stakes at Flemington last month – following a transfer from Maher’s stable.
The five-year-old mare was scratched from last Saturday’s Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield to prepare for the $1m Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes over the mile at Randwick this Saturday.
“It’s the right distance range and good prizemoney,” Bedggood said about the Hollindale mission.
“Just Folk will head that way as well. He might have one more run down here and then go into the Hollindale and Doomben Cup (over 2000m on May 24).”
Just that simple! 💨 Just Folk leads all the way in the Doncaster Prelude!@GavinBedggood | @TommyBerry21 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/y2IImS4oRO
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2025
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Veteran gelding Just Folk finished 17th out of 20 runners in last Saturday’s Doncaster Mile after winning the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude just four days beforehand in a rescheduled meeting at Rosehill.
“On dry ground everything else gets quicker and he probably goes slower,” Bedggood said about the eight-year-old’s Doncaster Mile flop at Randwick.
“It was run at a pretty sedate tempo and that didn’t really suit him. The target was the previous Saturday (washed out) and he was able to get the job done on the Tuesday. He’ll probably make his way to Brisbane now.”
Bedggood said his four-year-old gelding Oscar’s Fortune was a “fair chance” of being aimed at the $3m Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.
“He was below his best first-up but he’ll run in the (Listed) Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington in two weeks and then he’ll make his way up to Brisbane and head towards the Stradbroke,” the trainer said.
— WITH DANIEL PACE
Originally published as Queen Elizabeth Stakes champ Pride Of Jenni faces a crucial track gallop on Monday
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