No Jenni, no excuses: Gai eyes Empire Rose glory

The absence of Pride Of Jenni from the Group 1 race for mares on Victoria Derby Day will make it less about attrition.

Pride Of Jenni won the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in 2023 and again last year and was set to be a star attraction again on Saturday.

But a slower than expected recovery from a leg infection means the star mare will be missing from the third of Saturday’s Group 1 contests.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Surfin’ Bird is lining up for her first shot at Group 1 level having secured victory in the Group 2 Crystal Mile over Saturday’s course and distance last weekend.

While Pride Of Jenni adds excitement to racing, Waterhouse admitted it will make the job for Surfin’ Bird, and all the other mares engaged in Saturday’s race, a little easier.

“It’s a huge difference and for all the mares in it,” Waterhouse said.

“The pressure won’t be on in the same way, and it should be a more sensibly run race.”

Now a five-year-old, Surfin’ Bird has been a slow maturing mare, but she has been able to amass seven wins from her 12 starts.

This time last year, Surfin’ Bird was competing in benchmark company and ran in the Group 3 Hong Jockey Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day, finishing a weakening fifth as an odds-on favourite.

“She’s almost a different horse,” Waterhouse said.

“Last year she would have been beaten on Saturday, but this year, she’s a year older, more mature, bigger and stronger.

“I love backing up horses. You only have to look at the horse (Cosmic Crusader) that won the Cox Plate.

“She has thrived this preparation and her win last week was really gutsy I thought.

“I really love it when they roll up their sleeves and get on with the job and I liked the way she found the line and has gone ahead since then.

“She seems very happy and she doesn’t have to improve a lot.

“I think the Empire Rose is a winnable race this year.”