Jenni's Meadow all set for G1 Queensland Oaks
BRISBANE - An excellent lead-up run on May 24 has given Lindsay Park every indication Jenni's Meadow is one of the horses to beat in the A$700,000 (S$584,000) Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.
For all its success in Victoria, the famous Lindsay Park Racing operation - now run by the Hayes brothers, Ben, and twins J.D. and Will - has not yet won a Group 1 race in Queensland since the days of their father, David, and grandfather, Colin.
Jenni's Meadow will spearhead a strong team for the Hayes brothers, on a day where the A$1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m), A$1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m) and the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1,200m) will also be run.
Due to the ongoing wet weather and jockeys' concerns over the kickback and poor visibility, authorities decided to postpone the remaining four races - the Queensland Derby, Kingsford Smith Cup, Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1,400m) and Helen Coughlan Stakes - from the Queensland Derby day on May 31.
While three of the races will be run on June 7, the Fred Best Classic will be held at Doomben on June 4.
The Hayes brothers will be represented in all three Group races on June 7, with Rise At Dawn in the Kingsford Smith Cup and filly Chase Your Dreams taking on the boys in the Queensland Derby.
Ben Hayes believes Jenni's Meadow - a daughter of Brutal - has been trained to the minute for the Queensland Oaks off her slashing last-start second to Philia in the Group 2 The Roses (2,000m) at Doomben on May 24.
"We're very happy with her," Hayes said of the three-year-old filly.
"It was a huge run in The Roses, and I think, arguably, she was probably the run of the race. She was strong to the line, made a long, sustained run, and it looked perfect for 2,200m."
After Jenni's Meadow drew outside barriers 13 and 14 in her last two starts, Hayes thought she could have beaten the David Vandyke-trained Philia in The Roses, and is looking forward to a rematch, especially after pulling out marble one this time.
"She's been a bit unlucky this prep with wide barriers, and it has cost her. I think with a couple of better barriers and better runs in transit, she would have gone close," said Hayes.
"I don't think the barrier is all important, but a gate would definitely help, and I know (jockey) Ethan (Brown) was rapt with her run in The Roses.
"But she's building up beautifully. This has always been the target with her; to hopefully try and get her to a race like the Queensland Oaks. So we're arriving fourth-up, ready to go.
"She's a Listed winner as a young horse, placed in a Group 3 last preparation and now she's placed in a Group 2, so we need to get that good 'black type' win.
"She deserves to be there and has a great chance."
Jenni's Meadow, who finished second in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2,000m) in 2024, is a 6-1 chance on the third line of betting for the Queensland Oaks. Brown will take the ride on her again.
Philia, who holds favouritism at 5-2 despite drawing barrier 16 for jockey Kerrin McEvoy, will jump from gate 13 if the emergency acceptors fail to get a run.
The Glen Thompson-trained Benagil is the second favourite at 5-1, and has drawn barrier 5 with regular jockey Mark Zahra aboard.
While Jenni's Meadow prepares for her first shot at Group 1 glory on Saturday for connections of Cape Schanck Racing, managed by owner Tony Ottobre, her better-known stablemate Pride Of Jenni is returning to Melbourne for a spell after her last unplaced run in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2,000m) on May 24.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, the 2024 Australian Horse of the Year led in the field of 12 but quickly capitulated upon turning into the straight, fading to run 10th behind eventual winner Antino.
Pride Of Jenni also did not fare well in her other Group 1 assignment, the Australian Cup (2,000m), in 2025. She finished ninth to stablemate Light Infantry Man at Flemington on March 29.
Ottobre has dispatched one of his staff members to Queensland to accompany Pride Of Jenni back to his property on the Mornington Peninsula. The memorable runaway winner of the 2024 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) will be joined by stablemate Jennilala on the trip home.
Ottobre wants to get the seven-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai back to his farm to assess her before a final decision is made on her future.
But retirement plans are the furthest thing from his mind at this stage as he hopes to have the 10-time winner in Sydney for the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1,600m) at Randwick in October.
"I know she's really good at 1,600m. We're in it for racing. We're not in it for anything else but we'll be making sure the horse is fine," said Ottobre.
"But to go to something like the King Charles, she has to be in great order, and she has to be in a mood of wanting to race.
"If she's in that way, I will ask Ciaron's permission to train her for that. At this stage, nothing is off the deck."
Since resuming this year, Pride Of Jenni has produced one of her finest performances first-up in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1,800m) at Caulfield on March 15, followed by another win in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1,600m) at Caulfield on May 3.
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