Ottobre confirms Jenni’s spring plan

[Wandering Eyes]

Owner Tony Ottobre has clarified star mare Pride Of Jenni’s spring campaign.

Ottobre said Pride Of Jenni’s two grand finals would be the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick before backing up into the Cox Plate.

Where Pride Of Jenni resumes is still a little bit up in the air.

“The Memsie is her first race at the moment. There’s always the possibility she may be ready early in her prep and in good order and we look to get her to the races earlier,” Ottobre said.

“She may even go to the Winx. If she is up and going, you race her earlier, so it gives you a little bit extra time for the next race, but it’s all up to Ciaron, he knows her better than anyone.

“Of course there’s the King Charles. She’s a 1600m specialist. It’s why I prefer it over the 2000m.

“The 2000m to me, even though she has won a great one, has also been beaten in one by a short half-head. So, it’s a 50-50.

“With a 1600m race she’s virtually a 10/10 and nothing can keep up with her.”

Ottobre said the stable had completed genetic testing on Pride Of Jenni to hone in on her best distance.

“It came back from Ireland, that’s where they do it, and she travels from 1400m to 2200m,” he said.

“Say she is 2200m, that means she has the stamina for that distance. But if you sprint her for 1600m, it’s all about how long she can sustain the sprint?”

Ottobre said there had been discussions about potentially nominating Pride Of Jenni for the Melbourne Cup, but that was now not being considered.

“We’d had a few drinks (after winning a race) we were excited, (and we discussed) is it possible to win a Melbourne Cup?” Ottobre said.

“Ciaron Maher is a great thinker. He thinks outside the square, that’s what makes him a great trainer. And it went from there.

“(We said) throw a nom in and if you think she can do it we will have a look at it. This was back in April when it was spoken about.

“So that’s where it ended. Trainers throw noms in for everything. You can’t enter the race unless you have a nomination.

“I can guarantee you she won’t be racing in the Melbourne Cup.”

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