There are times when perhaps it would be best just to let your horse do the talking … particularly when that is horse is as capable, charismatic and inspiring as the Ciaron Maher trained Pride of Jenni, whose heroics in a nerve tingling, oh so narrow defeat in the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington on Saturday left every racegoer in awe of her commitment that goes beyond mere fighting ability … or at least takes that quality attribute to a whole new heart-warming level.
To put it simply … Pride Of Jenni is special.
Her performance speaks for itself, but when you are as passionate about the horse as Pride Of Jenni’s co-owner Tony Ottobre, sometimes you just can’t help yourself, as it was when Ottobre spoke on the Giddy Up program on SENtrack and became part of a conversation which not only quickly brought more than a little bit of controversy to proceedings, but also explained Ottobre’s unusual reasons behind his line of thinking about where Pride Of Jenni might go next.
Agree with him, or disagree, there is no ambiguity here. Ottobre calls it as he sees it.
“We’ve got a horse there that goes after us all the time, and brings the others up to us, just like what we saw on the weekend,” volunteered Ottobre.
“The horse was running second, keeping up really close, was busting his guts out …and he runs a thirty lengths last.
“I’ve had to put up with this a few times. I mean the smart guys can see what is going on. A lot of others can’t.
“If we go to the 2000m race (the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 11) we’ll be up against the geldings again, there generally there is a gelding in there that does that sort of job on us … so we’ll probably go to the mare’s race (the 1600m Group 1 Queen Of The Turf which is run on the same day as the Queen Elizabeth Stakes) at this stage.
“Only because I want a fair race.
“If you own a horse, you are there to try and win a race. You are not there to drag other horses up.
“It is as simple as that!
“Sorry to be controversial.”
“As much as I’d love to take on Autumn Glow … and maybe try and kill Bambi, because that is what it will be if we do beat her … more than likely, we’ll be going to the Queen Of The Turf.”
Trainer Ciaron Maher had previously indicated that the likely path that Pride Of Jenni would follow would be to go into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes after the Australian Cup and set up that blockbuster showdown scenario of the unbeaten Autumn Glow trying to run down Pride Of Jenni, but that ambition at least for now, is on hold at this time.
Would love to be a fly on the wall when the next Maher / Ottobre conversation takes place.
Pride Of Jenni may be avoiding the Queen Elizabeth! 👀
The fan favourite’s owner Tony Ottobre joined Giddy Up and discussed her future.@bet365_aus | @SENGiddyUp | @ghall27 | @HawkesRacing pic.twitter.com/rTXDLPCxao
— SENTrack (@SEN_track) March 30, 2026
