Written by Paul Vettise
Mornington trainer David Brideoake is heading to Sydney with a pair of stablemates at opposite ends of the racing spectrum.
The lightly-tried Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) will continue on a Classic trail while the wonderfully versatile Self Sense (Street Sense {USA}) might be approaching veteran status, but remains at the very top of his game.
With five years between them, the chalk and cheese duo will be travelling companions with their trips booked following outstanding last-start performances seven days apart.
At Moonee Valley on Friday night, Princess Jenni won for the second time in her four-start career with success in the G3 Alexandra S. and Self Sense then earned a ballot exemption from the G1 Caulfield Cup by claiming the Listed Mornington Cup.
“Potentially, she may go to the Oaks and we’ll make that call after the Adrian Knox.” – David Brideoake.
“It was a great couple of days – very, very good,” Brideoake said. “Princess Jenni will run on Saturday week in the Adrian Knox S. and then we’ll reassess what we’re doing.
“Potentially, she may go to the Oaks and we’ll make that call after the Adrian Knox.”
Princess Jenni was purchased out of Phoenix Park’s draft at Karaka for NZ$120,000 by Tony and Lynn Ottobre and every time she steps out it fuels emotions for the family. She is named in honour of their late daughter Jenni, who tragically passed away in 2015.
The filly is paying great respect with her emergence as a potential Group 1 contender.
“She won her maiden quite brilliantly and rather than go on into the spring we gave her a very good spell,” Brideoake said.
“She won her maiden quite brilliantly and rather than go on into the spring we gave her a very good spell.” - David Brideoake.
“We had a little bit of a hiccup and she was a bit late off the mark this preparation, but it’s all worked out and it was another brilliant performance at the Valley.
“Her recovery rate was very good the other night. She’s a good filly and will run 2000 metres without any doubt.”
Lynn and Tony Ottobre after Princess Jenni's Alexandra S. win
Princess Jenni is a daughter of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Glitzabeel (NZ) and a pedigree that features the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Beauty Watch (Belong To Me), who also ran third in the G1 Australian Oaks.
It further includes the G1 South Australian Derby runner-up Empire Gold (Second Empire {Ire}), who races in Hong Kong as Plastic Polymer and won the Listed Centenary Vase.
“He’s a big, powerful horse and he’ll go to Sydney for the Chairman’s.” - David Brideoake.
Self Sense earned the golden Caulfield Cup ticket at Mornington, but that is unlikely to see the 8-year-old hanging up his jumping boots.
“He’s a big, powerful horse and he’ll go to Sydney for the Chairman’s,” Brideoake said. “The Cup’s still be to be decided about.
“I think you will see him over fences again. From the time he started hurdle trialling his flat performances have never looked back and those successes have gone hand in hand with his jumping career.”
Self Sense has won 12 races on the flat and three over fences, including the Australian Hurdle, the Lafferty Hurdle and he was runner-up in the Grand National Hurdle.
“He’s a great horse to train and he was full of beans after Mornington,” Brideoake said.
“He’s a great horse to train and he was full of beans after Mornington.” - David Brideoake.
He bred the gelding and also won a G3 Auraria S. with his half-sister Shylight (Lago Delight).
“She beat Southern Speed, who went on and won a Caulfield Cup,” he said. “Shylight had a Wandjina colt that made $180,000 at Melbourne Premier this year.
“We also kept Street Belle and unfortunately she lost a Reset foal, but she’s got a good Star Witness filly.”
Bumper Karaka result
Earlier this year, Brideoake also celebrated a cracking result at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with a son of the late Redoute’s Choice.
The colt is out of his G1 Galaxy H. winner Griante (Good Journey {USA}), who he bred and raced with Brendan and Jo Lindsay and they offered the youngster in January in their first draft under the Cambridge Stud banner.
Watch: The Redoute's Choice x Griante colt
Bloodstock consultant James Bester and Aquis Farm went to NZ$800,000 for the first foal of the mare, who is now in foal to Pierro.
“I love the horse. He’s a beautiful Redoute’s Choice colt, the sort that everybody wants,” Bester said after winning the bidding battle.
“He’s got a beautiful head, a lovely action and a neat, athletic horse and obviously a potential stallion.”
