Trainer Ciaron Maher is no stranger to opening his wallet at the bar after a major victory. He has landed a Melbourne Cup, a Cox Plate, The Everest and two Caulfield Cups.
But when his front-running mare Pride Of Jenni wins, it is something different altogether. She inspires race club bosses to shout the entire course.
Tony Ottobre is calling Pride Of Jenni’s return the comeback of the century.Credit: Wayne Taylor
They did it at Caulfield two weeks ago, and they will do it again at Flemington on Saturday if she wins the Australian Cup – a drink on the house if she can keep challengers such as Middle Earth, Zardozi and Atishu at bay and flash first past the post.
“I’ve probably shouted the bar, but not the whole racecourse,” Maher said this week.
“It’s great to have her back.”
Having her back was not always on the agenda. Pride Of Jenni was retired by owner Tony Ottobre after suffering a bleeding attack during last year’s Melbourne Cup week.
The mare finished last at Flemington in the group 1 Champions Mile, was found to have blood in her nostrils, and the emotional Ottobre hastily called time on her career.
It was feared the country’s favourite horse, a rare front-running machine that could lead a field by 15 lengths, was lost to racing
But Pride Of Jenni had other ideas. She had not lost the will to compete.
This week, Maher, Ottobre and strapper Samantha Waters spoke to this masthead about one of racing’s most popular comebacks.
Pride Of Jenni wins the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney.Credit: Getty
No regrets
Ottobre was criticised for pushing his prized mare too hard during the spring.
The emotions flow for strapper Samantha Waters and trainer Ciaron Maher.Credit: Getty Images
It was a taxing campaign that saw her race three times in four weeks – second in the $5 million group 1 King Charles Stakes (1600m), eighth of nine in the $5 million group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and last in the $3 million group 1 Champions Mile (1600m).
But he had no regrets. “I rightfully retired her,” he said.
The media were the first to know. Immediately after the Champions Mile, Ottobre fired off a text to say he was sending seven-year-old mare Pride Of Jenni back to his 50-acre Cape Schanck property and would set up a date with boom Japanese stallion Equinox.
But it was not long before the colourful owner’s intentions begin to shift. “She was in the house paddock, and she was the first horse I would see in the morning and the last at night. She would always come over the fence in search of a carrot or two,” Ottobre said.
“I could see Pride was getting stronger and eager, so we started to work her around the property, beach work and sand track, and she loved swimming.”
Horses that bleed are banned from training for two months and racing for three months to allow them to fully recover, so talk of a comeback did not surface until January.
Cascadian, left, charges over the top of Pride Of Jenni to win the 2024 Australian Cup.Credit: Getty
By early February, Pride Of Jenni was back at Maher’s Cranbourne stables and jumping out in trials.
“I wouldn’t risk her, but she prefers to be in training, she wants to be a competitor,” Ottobre explained.
“She’s better than ever and this could be the comeback of the century. I’m thinking we will see this autumn why she’s the reigning horse of the year.”
Happy to be back
Pride Of Jenni returned to training like she had a point to prove. At least it seemed that way to her regular track rider and strapper, Samantha Waters.
When they dropped the three-time group 1 winner back at Maher’s Cranbourne stables she dragged her handlers “off the float and dragged them straight back up to her old box”.
“She knew where she was going, and she was very happy to be back,” Waters said.
The 27-year-old strapper was disappointed in the immediate aftermath of Pride Of Jenni’s retirement, but only because she did not want to see the mare “end on a bad note”.
She stayed in touch with Ottobre and visited the mare every second week. Now she has something extra to look forward to each day when she lobs at work.
“As soon as she came back into the stable, I was straight back on her and straight back working with her every day,” Waters said.
“I’d arguably say she has been just as good or seems a little bit better in herself than she did in the autumn of 2024.”
Better than ever
Maher won’t buy into claims that Pride Of Jenni was asked to do too much during the spring. He said criticism could be levelled at any horse during any campaign after a bad run.
Ciaron Maher, left, and Tony Ottobre after Pride Of Jenni won the 2024 All-Star Mile.Credit: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images
Instead, he said the enforced break had been a positive.
“She put on more weight than she’d ever put on because of that extended break,” Maher said.
“Her races take a bit out of her because of her style, the way she applies herself to races and track work, so the break could not have worked any better. It was a blessing.
“She’s had a rest, her lungs settled down … she is as good or better than ever.”
The trainer was not surprised when Ottobre called him at the start of the year to say he was bringing his mare back.
“He said she was retired to the media, but she was never officially retired, she just had her two months off,” Maher said.
Pride Of Jenni won her first race back over 1800m at group 2 level at Caulfield under new jockey Craig Newitt on March 15. She rolled to the front in familiar fashion and held them off. It was the first time she had won first-up.
“It’s good for racing,” Maher said. “You look at any race that doesn’t have her in it, and they’re high-quality races, they’re good races, but she just adds such another element to it.
“She’s unique in what she can do, and in what she can continually do. I think that just naturally endears people to her.”
That and a few free drinks.
