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How Muhammad Ali-esque Pride Of Jenni shocked Bates
Connor Scanlon • September 29th, 2025 2:01 pm
Pride Of Jenni won the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night, saluting in her first trip back to the races since May.
In 2024, following her underwhelming Group 1 Champions Mile run, Pride Of Jenni was retired after the horse bled from both nostrils.
Since then, the mare has stepped out of retirement and the fan favourite won for the third time in five starts since her premature end.
The eight-year-old fan favourite was the second favourite in the Feehan, behind emerging superstar Treasurethe Moment, but the Ciaron Maher trained bay did what she does best – hit the lead early, put a gap on her opposition and finished the race strong.
Pride Of Jenni’s spine-tingling first-up victory left her owner Tony Ottobre in awe at how the mare was able to win back-to-back Feehan Stakes.
“She was horse of the year in 2024,” Tony Ottobre told Gareth Hall on SENTrack's Race Card.
“And then we went through a bit of a horror patch last spring and a little bit into the Autumn.
“We were sort of a bit down and out.
“We’ve brought her back and everybody can see that she is a champion horse.
“She showed her true colours and showed her champion style.
“It’s like Muhammad Ali getting knocked down and out, then coming back next time and winning.”
The eight-year-old’s jockey in the Feehan, Declan Bates, joined SENTrack and RSN’s Giddy Up to break down her outstanding return victory.
The Irishman revealed that he knew very early in the race that Pride Of Jenni was in an elite position to win.
“I knew early in the race that Jenni was on,” Bates revealed.
“She didn’t begin the cleanest, but we steadily rode to the front.
“Once I got to about the 1200m, she was really tanking underneath me.
“Obviously you’re not really aware how everything is traveling behind you, but I knew I had to be stretching them just the way Jenni was picking up.
“I was really happy a long way out in the race and it was just a matter of trying to keep her up.”
When Bates was asked if he expected Pride Of Jenni to produce such an incredible performance first-up, the jockey admitted he didn’t see it coming.
“Probably not,” Bates admitted.
“Not that I would ever doubt her, but obviously she was first-up.
“Her last jump out was really good, so I was confident that she was in a good space.
“Honestly, I wasn’t totally expecting her to do that, but I certainly was not surprised.
“She was brilliant.”
Bates has partnered with Pride Of Jenni for six of her 11 career wins, and although it was only at Group 2 level, he rates the Feehan as one of his favourite wins on her back.
“That win is well up there for sure,” Bates said.
“It’s only a Group 2, but that will go down as one that I will always remember.
“Just the atmosphere on the night, the reaction from the crowd and the performance from her.
“For her to come back after setbacks at her age and the feel she gave me Friday night was Pride Of Jenni at her best.
“That’s a credit to Ciaron Maher and his team to just keep getting her back to produce these runs.
“I don’t think many trainers could do what he’s doing with her.
“It’s a special win for sure.”
The four-time Group 1 winner recalled how he heard the roar of the Moonee Valley crowd cheering for Pride Of Jenni from 600m out.
“I heard the roar a long way out which is unusual, as you don’t really hear them much until the last 100m,” Bates said.
“But I reckon at the 600m I could hear it.
“It just hits you like a wave, it’s an amazing feeling.”
Bates said he "wouldn’t be doubting" if Pride Of Jenni has another Group 1 victory in her.
