Written by Georgie Dennis
Group 1-winning mare Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) returned to the winner’s stall for the first time in over a year as she produced a tough performance to take out Wednesday’s G3 Bendigo Cup.
The David Brideoake-trained 5-year-old, winner of last year’s G1 Australasian Oaks, last won on September 27, 2019 when she took out the G2 Stocks S. at Moonee Valley and after four unplaced runs this campaign, including two at Group 1 level, she managed to fight off a late challenge from Joseph O’Brien’s international raider Pondus (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) to score by 0.1l.
Haky (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}) returned to form as he finished off the race well to come home another 2l away in third.
"It's terrific, she's such a good horse," Brideoake said.
"This preparation, honestly, she hasn't done anything wrong. She's just had a series of bad gates and bits and pieces that just didn't allow us to get a result.
"This preparation, honestly, she hasn't done anything wrong. She's just had a series of bad gates and bits and pieces that just didn't allow us to get a result." - David Brideoake
"Today, that's a good result. She's just such a good horse."
Princess Jenni doesn’t hold a nomination for Tuesday’s G1 Melbourne Cup and Brideoake said her next likely target will be the G2 Matriarch S. at Flemington on the final day of the Cup Carnival.
"That's the one, possibly where we are going to go," Brideoake said.
"We just didn't get enough mile-and-a-half work into her (to go to the Melbourne Cup). But there's always next year."
Princess Jenni (NZ) as a yearling
Princess Jenni was purchased by Tony Ottobre out of Phoenix Park’s draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$120,000 and she is one of two foals to race from the Zabeel (NZ) mare Glitzabeel (NZ), who won five times up to 2100 metres.
Glitzabeel is a grand-daughter of the G2 Magic Night S. winner Precious Glitter (Danehill {USA}), who is a half-sister to the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner and G1 Australasian Oaks placegetter Beauty Watch (Belong To Me {USA}).
Glitzabeel has a 4-year-old mare named Tango Gold (NZ), who has won for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, as well as a 2-year-old filly by Power (GB) and a yearling fill by Turn Me Loose (NZ).
