Ciaron Maher to get a guide on Pride Of Jenni in Treasurethe Moment showdown at The Valley

Pride Of Jenni returns for her first run as an eight-year-old after a mixed autumn campaign that produced two wins but two battling efforts in Group 1 company in Melbourne and Brisbane.

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The triple Group 1 winner defeated her long-time rival Mr Brightside in last year’s Feehan Stakes but is set for a showdown with rising star Treasurethe Moment in Friday’s $500,000 contest.

Pride Of Jenni improved off her first hitout to easily win her second jumpout this time in at Cranbourne on September 15 before heading to The Valley for a gallop on Monday morning.

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Maher said Declan Bates, who has reunited with Pride Of Jenni this time in after losing the ride following last year’s Cox Plate, gave a positive report on the winner of more than $10m following her work.

“She’s getting there,” Maher said.

“She’s improving with each gallop and jumpout. Her first one (jumpout), she was a bit soft and her second one, she trialled a lot better.

“She’s come on nicely from that and Dec was pretty happy with her this morning.

“She’s heading in the right direction.”

Pride Of Jenni has a fair first-up record, posting her first win when resuming in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield in March.

Maher noted Pride Of Jenni has had several of her first-up runs over the unsuitable 1400m distance.

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He said starting her spring campaign at 1600m would be a better fit for the daughter of Pride Of Dubai.

“When she runs first-up over 14 (00m), she generally gets beaten so a mile is more to her liking,” Maher said.

“She probably cops 14 (00m) harder because she’s at her top basically all the way.

“All the signs are pretty good.

“But, I suppose with an older mare, you always want to see it on the track.”

Treasurethemoment has opened at $1.60 in the first all-in Feehan Stakes market with Pride Of Jenni and All-Star Mile winner Tom Kitten $4.50 equal second favourites.

Originally published as Ciaron Maher to get a guide on Pride Of Jenni in Treasurethe Moment showdown at The Valley