A front running juggernaut, Pride Of Jenni destroyed the best in a remarkable QEII display

Nobody can begrudge Tony Ottobre and Pride Of Jenni. The daughter of Pride Of Dubai, like all of Ottobre’s horses, is named in memory of their late daughter Jennifer Ottobre, who passed away in 2015 from brain cancer. He purchased his Group 1 victress for $100,000 under his Cape Schanck Stud banner when offered by Segenhoe Stud at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Pride of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is the first foal of winning O’Reilly mare Sancerre, a daughter of Group One Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray. Ottobre confessed she was the type he likes to buy at the yearling sales - her dam is by O’Reilly, and he’s a top broodmare sire in New Zealand. She is trained by the astute Ciaron Maher at Warwick Farm.

Placed at her first two starts in September 2020, Pride of Jenni raced away to win by two lengths when eased down in a 1200m maiden at Mornington. She developed throughout 2021 with her best result a 2nd to Still A Star in the Gr.2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes. In July 2022 the mare won a 1400m BM90 at Caulfield, then ran 3rd there to Chain Of Lightning in the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes. In March 2023 Pride Of Jenni ran a very close 2nd to Espinosa in the Gr.1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Resuming in September she scored another runner up slot to Amelia's Jewel in the Gr.2 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley.

From November in the 2023/24 season, Pride Of Jenni was at her absolute best, winning the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) from barrier 16 over Atishu, and then the Catalina Stakes at Flemington, also over the mile in November. Resuming in February, the mare ran 2nd to her nemesis, Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 CF ORR Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, but returned to the winners circle in the $3.7 million All-Star Mile, leading from the front in one of her finest victories by running her rivals ragged. Stepping up to 2000m she was caught by the old warrior Cascadian just short of the line in the Australian Cup, but once again Declan Bates rode a clever front running style race to almost steal it from the very best.

On April 13th 2023, Pride Of Jenni produced one of the greatest performances ever witnessed on an Australian racetrack when winning the $5 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. The six-year-old mare was expected to lead and set her rivals a task to run her down, but in what has been hailed as one of the most amazing performance seen at Randwick in 190 years, Pride Of Jenni destroyed the best horses in Australia. The speedy mare and jockey Declan Bates set up a Secretariat-like lead down the back straight and just kept upping the tempo around the turn, out in front by almost 40 lengths at one point, she kept on giving to the line to score an unbelievable victory of mammoth proportions. The jaw-dropping win secured her the Horse of the Year title and boosted her earnings towards the $9 million mark.

Pride Of Jenni would resume in the spring of 2024 with a 2nd placing to Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 Maykbe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, then go on to run a powerful race to win the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) under the lights at Moonee Valley, reversing the previous result. Back at Randwick, Jenni would be run down on the line by the promising Celowulf in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m), but once again displaying her supreme class as a modern day thoroughbred superstar.

RACE RECORD - 33: 8-9-3

EARNINGS - $9,959,490

G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

G1 Kennedy Champions Mile

G1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes

G2 Feehan Stakes

G1 All-Aged Stakes

2nd G1 Australian Cup

2nd G1 C.F. Orr Stakes

2nd G1 Coolmore Classic