If punters were looking for a lead from the betting ring for the import Pondus in Wednesdays $400,000 Group III Apiam Bendigo Cup (2400m), they received it in spades. However, what could go wrong did go wrong for the son of Sea The Moon who fell just short of catching the High Chaparral (IRE) mare, Princess Jenni.
Ridden by Jye McNeil for trainer David Brideoake, Princess Jenni received a charmed run just off the speed. Set alight just before the turn, Princess Jenni took the lead halfway down the straight and was not for catching.
By contrast, Pondus was caught wide from his outside barrier. When Damian Lane was looking for some cover on the Joseph O’Brien import, he had to swerve to miss Super Girl who broke down.
Forced the widest on the turn, Pondus charged home but fell a short-head short with a further two lengths back to Haky (IRE) (Muhtathir) in third.
Princess Jenni snapped a run of outs that date back to Group II Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley in September last year, however, her trainer believes the results did not accurately reflect how week she was going.
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“He (owner Tony Ottobre) will be thrilled. He puts his money in and buys nice horses and has had good success.
Brideoake said the Group 1 Matriarch Stakes is the immediate goal and added they ran out of time in trying to get her ready for the Melbourne Cup.
“We just didn’t get enough mile and a half work into her, but there’s always next year.
“She is such a good horse. I knew she was in good shape, and the ride was outstanding.”
Purchased by Tony Ottobre for $120,000 from the Phoenix Park draft at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Princess Jenni advances her record to six wins, one second and a third from 19 starts with earnings of $976,035.
She is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the 5-time winning Zabeel mare Glitzabeel.
Glitzabeel’s dam Glitter Woman (Fusaichi Pegasus) is a daughter of the Group II Magic Night Stakes winner Precious Glitter (Danehill) a half-sister to the Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner and multiple Group 1 placed Beauty Watch.
Beauty Watch is the dam of the Group II ATC JRA Plate winner Top Of My List, who like Princess Jenni, is a daughter of High Chaparral (IRE).
Yulong purchased Glitzabeel out of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
Not in foal at the time of sale, Glitzabeel has a 2yo filly by Power (GB) and a yearling filly by Turn Me Loose.
