Pride Of Jenni sets The Valley alight with brilliant frontrunning win in the Feehan Stakes

Bring on the Cox Plate. Pride Of Jenni was too good for Mr Brightside under lights at The Valley as the Feehan Stakes lived up to its billing.

Good luck beating Pride Of Jenni, or Mr Brightside for that matter, wherever they go to next.

Australia’s best weight-for-age middle distance horses lived up to the billing on Friday night in a Group 2 Feehan Stakes spectacle to be remembered.

The Might And Power, the King Charles, the Cox Plate, they are all on the agenda and there to be taken.

Irrepressible Pride Of Jenni was too fast early, too far in front in the middle, and ultimately too good under lights at The Valley.

She led by 10 lengths at the school, five on straightening and was never going to be run down.

THAT WAS AWESOME! 💙💜

Pride Of Jenni runs her opposition into the ground! 🔥 @[e-mail]/i8oSg4dNbf

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 27, 2024

Mr Brightside hunted the mare, took ground off her late, but could do no better than second. Bring on the Cox Plate.

Antino gallant as ever in third from Attrition.

One winner sure, but even the most ardent punter would struggle to pot a loser.

The quartet, reduced by the presence of superstars Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, starred under lights.

The $5m King Charles III Stakes (1600m) in Sydney and $5m Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley loom large next month for the winner and runner-up.

Pride Of Jenni ran her rivals into the ground in the Feehan Stakes at The Valley on Friday night. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Pride Of Jenni’s trainer Ciaron Maher summed it up best as “unbelievable”.

“That’s what racing’s all about, nights like this,” Maher said.

“Really good racing and a brilliant job by (jockey) Dec (Bates).

“He understands her so well and the atmosphere tonight is electric … I thought she was home a fair way out, but got a little bit scared last time.”

Mr Brightside mowed down Pride Of Jenni last start in the Makybe Diva Stakes – he could not repeat the dose on Friday night.

A big crowd at The Valley cheer on Pride Of Jenni. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Bates nailed the ride and the occasion.

“She was ready for a Moonee Valley race where she could just roll along and skip away. I was pretty positive on her, too,” Bates said.

“A lot of times I do like to just take it easy on her through that first 200(m) … I asked a lot of her today, but I knew around here on this ground that’s how we, you know, were up against the champion in Brightside and had to do what I had to do to beat him.

“I’ve just got an absolute champion of a horse here.”

Originally published as Pride Of Jenni sets The Valley alight with brilliant frontrunning win in the Feehan Stakes