Runaway Queen Elizabeth winner Pride Of Jenni is set to be a star attraction on TAB Everest Day as she eyes the royal double in the Group 1 $5m King Charles III Stakes (1600m).
The rising seven-year-old mare’s owner Tony Ottobre confirmed on WA radio on Tuesday that he’s asked trainer Ciaron Maher to set her for the feature mile race at Royal Randwick on October 19.
“My opinion is she’s a terrific 1600m horse, she’s a specialist at it,’’ Ottobre said.
Pride Of Jenni’s owner Tony Ottobre (Pic: Bradley Photos).
“I don’t think there’s too many that can beat her at 1600m. Being a $5 million race the King Charles, we’ll try to get that one out of the way.
“That’ll be our target race and the monkey’s off our back.”
Ottobre said running in the King Charles doesn’t prevent Pride Of Jenni from backing up in the Cox Plate but he said the Sydney race should contain fewer surprises as far as the opposition is concerned.
Pride Of Jenni is the $3.50 favourite with TAB in pre-nominations betting on the King Charles III ahead of defending champ Fangirl and Doncaster Mile winner Celestial Legend.
“We are pretty sure of what’s going to be racing in the King Charles, all milers and Australian horses mainly,’’ he said.
“Better to be safe than sorry and I think the King Charles will be the ideal race for her and that’s the one we are going to be targeting.”
It’s been three months since Pride Of Jenni’s remarkable 6-1/2 length win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), a race that will be talked about for generations after she led by almost 100m at one stage of the race.
Ottobre reported the mare has stacked on the weight in her break, coming back into work at Maher’s Cranbourne base after a four and a half week break some 35 to 40kg heavier.
“She’s one of the soundest horses I’ve ever owned and she’s a six-year-old mare,’’ he said.
“She put on a good deal of weight and she’s in a great headspace. She was extremely happy and comfortable, I put her in with her best friend Jennilala,’’ he said.
“They’ve got the house paddock to themselves. They can look all over the property and were very content, and they spelled very well both of those horses.”
– Racing NSW
