Pride Of Jenni will not defend her Empire Rose Stakes crown at Flemington on Derby Day, with the popular mare still recovering from the leg infection that ruled her out of the King Charles III Stakes.
Gareth Hall broke the news on the Giddy Up racing program on Monday morning, Racing.com reported.
“Pride Of Jenni is out of the Empire Rose,” Hall said on Giddy Up.
“She is just still getting over that setback that she had before the King Charles.
“She might take on the mare, Autumn Glow, in the Champions Mile.”
Early favourite out of Derby Day
Pride Of Jenni was the early favourite for the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Saturday 31 October, a race she has won twice. Her withdrawal opens up one of the feature mares’ races of Derby Day.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was scratched from the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on 15 October after a slight infection was found in her leg. At the time, owner Tony Ottobre said the Empire Rose remained her main spring target.
Read more: Pride Of Jenni Scratched From King Charles III Stakes With Leg Infection
Autumn Glow clash back on the cards?
If Pride Of Jenni does head to the Champions Mile, she could finally meet Chris Waller’s star mare Autumn Glow, the clash racing fans missed at Randwick. The $3 million Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) is run at Flemington on Champions Stakes Day, Saturday 7 November.
Autumn Glow’s camp confirmed to Racing.com last week that the reigning Horse Of The Year will have her first start outside Sydney in the Champions Mile.
“She’s in very good shape, so we’re batting on and heading to the Champions Mile,” Arrowfield Stud’s John Messara said.
Read more: Racing: Pride Of Jenni Set for King Charles III Clash With Autumn Glow
No final call on the Champions Mile has been announced, and Pride Of Jenni’s next start will depend on how she recovers over the coming days.
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