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The call that sparked Pride Of Jenni return for Bates
Connor Scanlon • September 29th, 2025 8:03 pm
In late 2024, Pride Of Jenni’s usual jockey Declan Bates was booted from the mare after finishing second last in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
Despite Bates leading Pride Of Jenni to six of her 11 career wins, owner Tony Ottobre chose Ben Melham to replace Bates in the following race - the Group 1 Champions Mile.
After Bates was axed, Pride Of Jenni competed in five races, winning two of them under Craig Newitt, before Ottobre decided that Bates was the best jockey for the job again.
On Friday night the duo reunited, and Bates rode the eight-year-old fan favourite to a Group 2 Feehan Stakes victory by 1.75 lengths at The Valley.
The Irishman admitted that it was disappointing that Ottobre originally made the decision to sack him from Pride Of Jenni, but he respected the owner for making the call.
“No doubt it was a disappointment, but I didn’t feel personally confronted by it,” Bates revealed.
“I get on fantastically with Tony and I know that he makes decisions with what he thinks is the right things.
“He felt the right thing was a change of jockey and I sort of respected that.
“As I said he’s always been so good to me and there was never going to be any fallout.”
The four-time Group 1 winning jockey told SENTrack and RSN’s Giddy Up that when Ottobre gave him the call to ask whether he wanted to partner up with the mare once again, Bates admitted he was over the moon.
“Tony gave me a call and said, ‘Do you want to get back onboard?’” Bates said.
“When he decided the best thing was for me to get back onboard, I was happy to get back on the horse because she means the world to me.
“It’s been a hell of a ride with her and Tony’s been absolutely fantastic to me.
“We have a great connection – Tony, his family and my family – we are forever linked I think between this horse.”
