Champion mare Pride Of Jenni will face a new challenge when she lines up in the final feature weight-for-age race of the year at Eagle Farm.
Owner Tony Ottobre has confirmed the mare will contest the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday before a brief break to prepare for the spring.
Nominations for the Group 2 race close on Monday with acceptances on Wednesday.
Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, said Pride Of Jenni had been out on the grass following her last start second to Birdman in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 23.
“She’s ticking over,” Turnbull said.
“She’s been out on the grass, but she will stay moving into the spring.
“A mare like her, you can’t really stop.
“Ultimately, it will be up to Tony and Ciaron (whether she starts), but she is in work and she is rock hard fit, and you don’t really have to gallop her or anything.”
In her 48-start career that has netted 13 wins and more than $12.5 million in prize money, Pride Of Jenni has yet to race beyond 2040m.
Turnbull said the 2200m was certainly a new challenge, but it is only 200m further than the 2000m she was beaten narrowly over in the Australian Cup earlier in the year and the same trip as her most recent effort in the Doomben Cup.
Pride Of Jenni’s presence will add a different dimension into Saturday’s race which is also likely to see Melbourne and Caulfield Cup hero Half Yours and Vauban among starters.
Formerly known as the P J O’Shea Stakes, the Q22 has been won in recent years by Zaaki, Numerian, Without A Fight, Fawkner Park and Kovalica.
The Maher team will saddle two runners in one of Australia’s feature races, the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.
Another Wil and Warnie will represent the team as it looks to add another Group 1 feature to the trophy cabinet.
“We just need to draw some barriers,” Turnbull said.
“Another Wil has been good off wide draws. He has to go two weeks, two weeks, but he seems in a pretty good spot.
“Warnie was good first-up but disappointed second-up.
“We think back to handicap conditions suits, providing he draws a gate, he can get involved.”
