The Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) was billed as close to a match race between Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside but Declan Bates ensured the mare, trained by Ciaron Maher, wasn’t for catching and extended her head-to-head lead over Mr Brightside.
With just a field of four, Pride Of Jenni ($1.90 betting) edged Mr Brightside ($2.20) for favouritism, and Bates opened up a lead of 10 lengths with 600m to go, still leading by six lengths into the straight and holding on comfortably to beat Mr Brightside by 1-1/2 lengths, with Antino 3/4 of a length away in third. Attrition finished last of the quartet.
This was the first time she’s started favourite since the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) in February of last year and Bates was happy to really let Pride Of Jenni rip, her time of 1.34.67 just 0.3 seconds off the track record, ironically set by Amelia’s Jewel when beating Pride Of Jenni last year.
“I sat on her Monday morning and I’ve been looking forward to tonight ever since because I knew she had just come on from that last run and she was just on it,” Bates said.
“A lot of times I do like to just take it easy on her through that first 200, but I really just let her stride from the word go today and probably got a little breather, about 2000, and then from the 800, I asked a lot of her today… we were up against the champion in Brightside and had to do what I had to do to beat him.”
Maher was thrilled to see Pride Of Jenni back in the winner’s stall having been beaten at her first two runs this time in.
“To have her back, that’s what racing’s all about, nights like this. Really good racing and a brilliant job by Dec. He understands her so well and the atmosphere tonight is electric,” Maher said.
“It’s just rad to have her back. I thought she was pretty close to right and thankfully she’s right back.”
As for Bates, there was no praise too high.
“I’ve just got an absolute champion of a horse here.”