Pride Of Jenni retired after bleed in Champions Mile at Flemington

Pride Of Jenni, the 2023/24 Australian Horse of the Year, has raced her last race.

The seven-year-old mare suffered a bleed in the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday. After the race, her owners decided it would be best for her to retire.

Pride Of Jenni finishes her career with three wins in Group 1 races, including the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last April. The mare also racked up over $10 million in prize money during her illustrious career.

Bleed causes worry

Pride Of Jenni was seen bleeding from both nostrils in her disappointing run at Flemington on Saturday.

The star mare and jockey Ben Melham–who replaced Pride Of Jenni’s regular mount, Declan Bates–could not finish the race competitively.

Pride Of Jenni finished in 11th place out of 11 racers. She finished over seven lengths behind winner Mr Brightside, proving her trainer’s pre-race prediction correct.

Ciaron Maher said his mare would either “win by five (lengths) or get beaten by 10” in his comments during the week leading up to the race.

Owner makes swift decision

After the scary scenes of Pride Of Jenni’s bleed and slow run in Champions Mile on Saturday, her owner Tony Ottobre decided quickly that his mare’s career was done.

“There’s no more racing for Pride Of Jenni,” Ottobre said immediately after the race.

“I could bring her back in the autumn but I'm not going to do that.

“I’m not worried about the money. I’ll just look after the horse now and I think she's had enough. Everyone knows how to beat her and she didn’t perform that well. It’s all over,” he added.

Broodmare future discussed

It was too soon to say anything concrete about Pride Of Jenni’s future after her shocking performance in the Champions Mile. However, Tony Ottobre did hint that the three-time Group 1 winner could become a broodmare for his stable.

Specifically, Ottobre stated that Pride Of Jenni could be a good match for Equinox, who is currently in Australia visiting from Japan.

“I love Equinox as a sire and if we can, that's where she will go,” Ottobre said.

Whether or not Pride Of Jenni ends up as a top broodmare is still up in the air. What Ottobre has said is that the mare will have the best life possible and be able to enjoy her retired life at his personal paddock.

“She's won $10 million. Now she can enjoy her time in my house paddock,” he said.