Racegoers at Royal Randwick witnessed what will go down in the history books as potentially the most impressive Group 1 performance of all time with Ciaron Maher’s outstanding mare Pride Of Jenni demolishing her rivals in a never-seen-before performance to claim the Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2024.

2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pride Of Jenni produced a history-making performance to dominate the $5 million autumn classic from start to finish. Photo: Steve Hart.

The six-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai was the expected leader in the autumn’s showcase race, but no one expected jockey Declan Bates to have her out in front by some 30 lengths throughout the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

She was brilliant out of the gates and never relinquished her lead, in an absolute league of her own from barrier to box to return to winning form after her last start Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) second at Flemington.

Bates was not letting the All-Star Mile champ be beaten this time with the bonny six-year-old fourth-up and fit, but somewhat forgotten in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.

There will be no forgetting her ever again after she destroyed her competition acing a sensational field of star rivals in historic fashion.

“I’ve never seen anything like that, ever,” a near speechless Maher, who had won the race prior with the favourite Circle Of Fire saluting in the Sydney Cup, said post-victory.

“Phenomenal.

“To Dec (Declan Bates) to have the norrys do that, god.

“In a Group 1! Like, not just any Group 1! I don’t think it’ll get any better than that.

“That’s the biggest win I’ve ever seen, let alone had anything to do with.”

Pride Of Jenni ($7), who had previously finished outside the top three in her two other Randwick runs, was off and gone at the 1400m out by eight lengths.

The margin just continued to extend with the rest of the pack left in her wake doing the chasing for the minors.

 “I knew she’d get better the more she raced at 2000 (metres). My God, that was mind boggling to know that a horse can do that,” Maher continued. 

“She ran 11.1, I reckon it was at about the mile.

“I never doubt Dec (and) she must have given him some amazing feel. Full credit to him.

“Incredible.”

The mighty mare was unbelievable showing sustained speed to sit 30 lengths in front at the top of the straight.

The margin narrowed with 200m to go, Bates going briefly for the whip, but there was no need as nothing even came close to running her down with the mare having 6.54 lengths to spare on the line.

“That was all her today,” Bates said.

Over the last six months, the times I’ve ridden her we had a nice rhythm with each other and when I’d ask her to come back she’d come back a bit.

“Today, when the horse on the outside came to her, she grabbed the bit and she didn’t drop it at any point.

“I was actually concerned that we were doing a bit too much. To be honest, until we hit that line I wasn’t happy at all today until it was done.

“I couldn’t tell you what the sectionals were. Generally once we’re doing it nice and smoothly, I’m aware. Today, just knew we were going quicker than I wanted to so it was a matter of coming back, coming back, and she said ‘nah I’m going’. She knows better.

“It is amazing. Tony Ottobre has changed my life putting me on these horses. Just to be a part of this, you know, it is something special. It really is.

“I knew when I got out today she had a spring in her step and I was concerned that she was getting to the end of her prep.

“You can usually hear them coming and I was tempted to have a look back but I kept my eyes on the post.”

In a distant second was Chris Waller’s beaten favourite, last start Ranvet winner Via Sistina ($1.85F), while Mr Brightside ($10) ran fourth ahead of Cascadian ($8.50) in the dual Australian Cup champ’s likely swansong.

2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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