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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Declan Bates is asked a lot about how it feels to ride a horse like Pride Of Jenni.

Jockey Delcan Bates (Pic: Bradley Photos)

A warrior, a marvel he’d describe her as, a mare that leaves it all out on the track with her spectacular front-running style.

It’s a question, he says, he’s not always sure how to answer. But on this occasion he’s nailed it.

“It’s a good feeling when you know they’re going to struggle to get to you,’’ Bates said.

“The times we’ve won I usually know early in the race we’re probably going to win.

“She’s an amazing racehorse but it’s not like a lot of real good horses where they have that great turn of foot and it’s just instantaneous.

“With her it’s that she can sustain something a lot of others can’t do. When she does build a gap in a race and I get the feel she’s not stopping that’s the best feeling.”

If you’re a racing fan you know all about Pride Of Jenni.

She’s responsible for one of the most breathtaking performances seen on a racecourse, that 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes win, a performance that defines her.

It’s unrealistic to think, as a rising nine-year-old, she’ll repeat something like that exhibition again but what Bates can say is in her two runs this autumn she’s shown her resilience and will to win.

In fact, in defeat in the Australian Cup last month she probably earned even more fans as racegoers collectively willed her to win before she was edged out by stablemate Light Infantry Man.

“We haven’t won a race this prep yet which is frustrating but it’s not a reflection of how she’s going,’’ he said.

“It’s still encouraging because it clearly shows she still wants to do it.

“That’s not to say I can’t look back on it and be happy with her, she ran a fantastic race. I’m happy with how I rode her and it just didn’t quite come off.

“If I was going to be beaten by anyone, to be beaten by Harry (Coffey) in that situation made it a bit easier because he’s a good mate.

“But it’s almost like we won the reaction we got. I almost felt a bit bad for Harry because he was almost getting no credit, all the talk was about Jenni. It’s going to go down as one of the great races, it’s not lost on me that I’m very lucky.”

Needless to say Pride Of Jenni is getting close to the end of he career and Bates, who has been her regular rider for the most part since the spring of 2023, would love to add a fifth Group 1 to her record in the $1 million Moet & Chandon Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

There was plenty of talk about whether she should be having another shot at the Queen Elizabeth but regardless her presence at Randwick adds another level to Day 2 of The Championships.

Bates said drawing the inside barrier is far from a negative for Pride Of Jenni.

Interestingly, the mare keeps her cards close to her chest when it comes to giving the jockey an indication of what to expect on race day.

“I’ve thought about lining up characteristics when she’s run well and there’s no real pattern,’’ he said.

“She’s a bit of an unusual character, it’s only when the gates open she turns it on.

“She’s generally been jumping very cleanly so I’m confident the barrier is not going to be an issue. It does mean the start becomes extra important, just nailing that, but I don’t mind being low.

“Regardless of where we drew we’re going to have to be very sharp over the mile.”

HORSE RACING AT ITS ABSOLUTE BEST 🤯

Light Infantry Man goes back-to-back in an Australian Cup epic! Pride Of Jenni with the most gallant of runs, we salute you 🫡@htcoffey @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/R78B7dCBLk

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 28, 2026

Pride Of Jenni's brave Australian Cup effort (Video: 7HorseRacing on X

What is the message from Bates for those who want to try to match it with Pride Of Jenni, $4 with TAB on Wednesday, early in the Queen Of The Turf?

“There’s been races in the past where we’ve had horses whose racing style was similar to Jenni’s and the talk was they’re going to take her on but when it came down to it they simply couldn’t match her,’’ he said.

“It’s a different ball game when they get up against Jenni. I approach it like any other race, just concentrate on her and as long as I can execute her to do her thing she’ll be hard to beat.

“If we were to win it would be really special. They’re not easy to win these races but if you’re on board her you’ve got a really good chance of winning.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday