Pride Of Jenni Roars to Victory in Feehan Stakes,Setting Stage for 2025 Campaigns
Moonee Valley,VIC – Pride Of Jenni delivered a stunning performance in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes on Friday night,signaling her readiness for a potentially triumphant 2025 racing season. The eight-year-old mare, ridden by Declan Bates, powered to victory, captivating the Moonee Valley crowd and leaving jockey Bates impressed with her exceptional form.
The win marks a significant moment for Pride Of Jenni, a four-time Group 1 winner, as she returns from setbacks and continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience under the training of Ciaron Maher. The Feehan Stakes victory is especially noteworthy as it occurred first-up, exceeding expectations even for those closely involved with the horse. Owner Tony Ottobre will be hoping this form continues as Pride Of Jenni targets further Group 1 success.
Bates revealed he sensed Pride Of Jenni’s strength early in the race. “I knew early in the race that Jenni was on,” he said. despite a less-than-ideal start, the pair steadily moved to the front, with Bates noting she was “really tanking underneath me” by the 1200m mark. He added, “I was really happy a long way out in the race and it was just a matter of trying to keep her up.”
While acknowledging her last jump out was promising, Bates admitted the extent of her first-up dominance was unexpected. “Probably not,” he confessed. “Not that I would ever doubt her, but obviously she was first-up… Honestly, I wasn’t totally expecting her to do that, but I certainly was not surprised. She was brilliant.”
Bates, who has partnered with Pride Of Jenni for six of her 11 career wins, described the victory as “well up there for sure,” highlighting the atmosphere, crowd reaction, and the mare’s exceptional feel. He praised Maher and his team for consistently bringing Pride Of Jenni back to peak performance, stating, “I don’t think many trainers could do what he’s doing with her.”
The jockey also noted the unusual experience of hearing the crowd’s roar from as far out as the 600m mark. ”It just hits you like a wave,it’s an amazing feeling.” Bates expressed unwavering confidence in Pride Of Jenni’s potential for future Group 1 victories, stating he “wouldn’t be doubting” another triumph.