A year ago, Jennilala ran second in the Easter Cup and 12 months later she is back at Caulfield attempting to win the other feature.
The Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) on Saturday will be Jennilala’s second outing for Gavin Bedggood after transferring from the Ciaron Maher stable.
Jennilala scored first-up for Bedggood in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 8 and Bedggood has plans of another mile Stakes race for the mare in coming weeks.
The Group 2 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on April 26 is the contest Bedggood has his eye on for Jennilala and he sees Saturday’s race as a nice stepping stone.
Bedggood said Jennilala had a week in the paddock after her latest victory and was in fantastic order heading into Saturday.
“She’s had a couple of gallops the last couple of Saturday mornings and I think she’s fresh enough to run really well over the 1400 metres on Saturday,” Bedggood said.
“She probably beat the ‘B grade’ mares last start if you’re truly honest and this race, it sets her up nicely to go to Adelaide and tackle the Queen Of The South in three weeks’ time.
“So, rather than being seven weeks between runs, it’s a nice tick over race, but I would be disappointed if she didn’t run really well.”
Jennilala is owned in the same interests as Pride Of Jenni who did not strike her best form until she was a six-year-old, winning Horse of the Year honours.
That six-year-old year saw Pride Of Jenni win the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes, the Champions Mile, the All-Star Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
A five-year-old, Jennilala may still have the best ahead of her, although she did win the Group 3 Auraria Stakes as a three-year-old and has performed well over distances ranging from 1400m to 2000m.
Bedggood has a lot of time for Jennilala.
“She’s the kindest mare, the soundest mare we’ve got,” Bedggood said.
“She takes everything in her stride and is a nice horse to have around.”
Craig Newitt, who scored on Jennilala at Flemington, again has the ride on Saturday.
