Autumn Glow owner happy with Pride Of Jenni call as Cup hope in doubt
Craig Kerry
Autumn Glow’s part-owner John Messara was pleased not to see Pride Of Jenni in the field for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Saturday, when his unbeaten star will make his debut over the mile.
While Arrowfield Stud founder Messara believes a proposed $2 million match race with the front-runner veteran is unlikely, he said he is always open to suggestions.
Autumn Glow, who has a perfect record from 11 starts, won the second of eight races on Tuesday for the $5 million weight-for-age highlight on the second day of the Championship at Randwick.
But the focus was on the absence of eight-year-old Pride Of Jenni, who etched herself into racing folklore in 2024 by leading the race by 30 lengths and winning by 6.5 lengths.
Owner Tony Ottobre announced: YOU Radio says Pride Of Jenni will run the Queen Of The Turf (1600m) instead, a preparation she’ll likely have an easier time of after two heartbreaking placements.
Four-year-old Autumn Glow remained Queen Elizabeth’s $1.40 TAB favorite. Pride Of Jenni’s presence couldn’t change that much, but Messara was glad she went elsewhere.
“It could disrupt the race,” Messara said. “It could go to 10 [lengths] He’s ahead… then suddenly you think, ‘I can’t let him get too far ahead.’ So you push and push and push and upset the apple cart. “In a way, I’d rather he wasn’t there.”
Ottobre said he was still open to a $1 million-a-track match race over 1,600 to 2,000 meters with any horse, including Autumn Glow. Messara did not rule it out but said it was unlikely.
“These match races don’t attract people’s attention and if there’s a big difference in one or the other horse you get a ridiculous result,” he said. “You can beat the other horse by four or five points. That takes all the fun out of life.”
“It could go either way, I don’t know. She’s a great mare [Pride Of Jenni] and he has a lot of heart. “This is an unlikely outcome, but I’m always open to suggestions.”
Adrian Bott believed Pride Of Jenni could help Queen Elizabeth’s runner Sir Delius’ cause, but the trainer’s focus was on Sydney Cup (3200m) challenger Campaldino, who failed inspection on Tuesday.
The $6 hope for the $2 million Cup finished second in the Presidential Quality (2600m) last Saturday but has been placed in doubt for group 1 after Racing NSW vets found he was suffering from a cardiac arrhythmia.
Bott hoped he could pass more tests and take his place at 14 of the 16 gates. If Campaldino is cleared, he will need to gallop the 1,000 meters again on Thursday, stewards said.
“He was checked right after the race and all vital signs and everything were fine, so it’s a little bit unusual,” Bott said. “He never did any strenuous exercise [since Saturday].”
