Declan Bates has produced one of gutsiest rides that we have ever witnessed on a racetrack aboard Pride Of Jenni (+600) as she ran her rivals in the ground in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, giving Ciaron Maher his first win in the $5 million race.
Everyone knew that Bates would lead aboard the six-year-old mare, but no one honestly thought that he would let her roll along in front and lead by approximately 40 lengths mid-way through the 2000m contest.
The rest of the field was led by Mr Brightside (+850); however, none of the jockeys made a mid-race move to try and chase down the tearaway leader, and Pride Of Jenni turned for home with a massive 20-length advantage on her rivals.
With 200m to go, it was clear that the leader was slowing down and she wobbled out to the middle of the track, but even the best middle distance horses in Australia could chase her down.
Via Sistina (-117.65) worked home nicely to lead the rest of the field over the line ahead of Mr Brightside, some six lengths adrift of ultra-impressive winner.
2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Replay – Pride Of Jenni
Ciaron Maher was clearly emotional post-race during his interview.
“Unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that, ever. Phenomenal,” Maher said.
“To Dec, Tony, Lyn. For Dec to have the ‘norrys’ to do that. (Leading) by 40! In a group one! And not just any group one.
“I don’t think it will get any better than that.
“That is the biggest win I’ve ever seen, let alone had anything to do with.
“I knew she’d get better the more she raced at 2000 (metres).
“My God, that was mind boggling to know that a horse can do that.
“She ran 11.1, I reckon it was at about the mile.
“I never doubt Dec (and) she must have given him some amazing feel. Full credit to him.”
Declan Bates’ ride on Pride Of Jenni will be spoken about for a long time, and he spoke post-race about the tactics.
“Not good, to be honest. That was all her today,” Bates said about being so far in front during the race.
“Over the last six months, the times I’ve ridden her we had a nice rhythm with each other and when I’d ask her to come back she’d come back a bit.
“Today, when the horse on the outside came to her, she grabbed the bit and she didn’t drop it at any point.
“I was actually concerned that we were doing a bit too much. To be honest, until we hit that line I wasn’t happy at all today until it was done.
“I couldn’t tell you what the sectionals were. Generally once we’re doing it nice and smoothly, I’m aware.
“Today, just knew we were going quicker than I wanted to so it was a matter of coming back, coming back, and she said ‘nah I’m going’. She knows better.
“It is amazing. Tony Ottobre has changed my life putting me on these horses.
“Just to be a part of this, you know, it is something special. It really is.
“I knew when I got out today she had a spring in her step and I was concerned that she was getting to the end of her prep.
“You can usually hear them coming and I was tempted to have a look back but I kept my eyes on the post.”
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