The David Brideoake-trained Princess Jenni came with a well-timed run under Damien Oliver to win the Gr.2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night, notching her fifth win from nine career starts.
Princess Jenni defeats Rondinella in the Gr.2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) Photo: Darryl Sherer
The winner of the Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at three, Princess Jenni was having her second start since commencing her four-year-old career and made good improvement from her first-up seventh in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m).
New Zealand-trained mare Rondinella was held up for a run at a crucial stage and will improve for the run, while Oceanex found the line well for third to nab an all important Group Two placing.
“You worry when they come in for their four-year-old year and take on open-age competitors, but she has shown tonight that she has taken that next step, which is terrific,” said Alex Woodhams, Assistant Trainer to David Brideoake.
“The plan was to have a light spring and have a little ping at the Empire Rose (Gr.1, 1600m) and wait until the autumn.
“Even again in 12 months she’ll be better. She has got a big frame there and she just needs to finish filling out.”
Raced by Tony and Lynn Ottobre, Princess Jenni is named after their late daughter Jenni, who succumbed to brain cancer in 2015.
A graduate of the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, Princess Jenni was a $120,000 purchase from the draft of Phoenix Park, who presented her on behalf of breeders Marg and Murray Hardy of the Sunlight Trust.
The first three runners were all New Zealand bred and purchased at Karaka, with Rondinella and Oceanex both daughters of in-form sire Ocean Park.
Nash Rawiller, who rode the Roger James trained Rondinella into second, rued getting held up rounding the bend.
“I was held up for a little bit too long and the winner stole a march,” Rawiller said.
“She had a lovely run and she was always going to get home well when she got the gap, she was just held up for three or four strides too long.”
