Pride Of Jenni set for 2025 Australian Cup before blockbuster Via Sistina showdown in Sydney

A victory on Saturday in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington could put Pride Of Jenni on a collision course with Cox Plate champion Via Sistina next month in Sydney.

Superstar Pride Of Jenni is on a collision course with Australia’s best racehorse — Cox Plate champion and horse of the year elect Via Sistina.

A victory on Saturday in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington could seal the blockbuster showdown in Sydney next month.

Passionate owner Tony Ottobre has confirmed ambitions for Pride Of Jenni to defend her Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) crown on April 12 at Randwick.

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Pride Of Jenni, who must perform in the Australian Cup to book the trip north, won the Queen Elizabeth last year by a record 8.3 lengths.

The comeback queen marked her return to racing in style with victory in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) last start at Caulfield.

Ottobre retired Pride Of Jenni last spring after a bleed in the Champions Mile at Flemington but the three-time Group 1 and All-Star Mile winner thrived so much during the would-be retirement that Ottobre sent her back to trainer Ciaron Maher.

The great mare is back! 💫

Pride Of Jenni picks up where she left off, stringing her opposition out & trouncing them in the Peter Young Stakes.@cmaherracing@craig_newittpic.twitter.com/qayDiM7HpB

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 15, 2025

Maher initially had the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (1500m), restricted to fillies and mares, circled as an option in Sydney but Pride Of Jenni’s progress warranted loftier ambitions in the Australian Cup and Queen Elizabeth.

“If she performs well in the Australian Cup I can’t see why we wouldn’t go there (Queen Elizabeth),” Ottobre said.

“It would be a great race to see, her up against Via Sistina.”

Pride Of Jenni has remarkably posted career peak training metrics since the comeback.

“She has come back better and she is better,” Ottobre said.

“Her demeanour is much calmer as well, which gives her a bit extra to finish races with instead of burning up that little bit of energy.

“She’s furnished into a really nice horse and this is her peak now. Amazing to say, as a seven-year-old mare, she’s peaking.”

Pride Of Jenni was scintillating in the Peter Young Stakes 💫

Damien Oliver analyses how she did it.#TheWrappic.twitter.com/2mD9Hmtpbl

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 15, 2025

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Maher has a stranglehold on Australian Cup betting with Pride Of Jenni ($2.50), Middle Earth ($4.50) and Light Infantry Man ($7) the top three in the pre-nominations market.

Godolphin Group 1 mare Zardozi ($7), runner-up in the Peter Young last start, and Flemington specialist Atishu ($8), trained by Chris Waller, make up the top five in early betting.

“It’s probably an easier race (Australian Cup) because most of the good horses are up in Sydney,” Ottobre said.

“A bonus for us, similar to the Peter Young, there was only one horse (Zardozi) there we needed to beat I think and she did that well.

Pride Of Jenni’s owner Tony Ottobre (right) and jockey Craig Newitt celebrate their Peter Young Stakes success at Caulfield earlier this month. Picture: George Sal / Racing Photos

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“She was a little bit underdone going into (the Peter Young) and we did think we’ll treat this as a trial as well as a race — $300,000 cheque (first prize) thank you very much.

“All her stats and all her figures are as good as ever … she’s actually in pristine condition for a seven-year-old.”

Pride Of Jenni led in trademark style last start under jockey Craig Newitt but raced within herself.

“Normally over that distance the first 800m she’d be off like a rocket, that’s what she used to do,” Ottobre said.

“It will be interesting to see her racing over the next few weeks. It will be fun.”