Pride Of Jenni revives memories of Vo Rogue

By Glenn Davis

Pride Of Jenni has won the hearts of racing fans and developed a cult-like following with her “catch me if you can” tactics.

Her deeds on the racetrack have revived memories of the former great Queenslander Vo Rogue who, like Pride Of Jenni, broke the hearts of his opposition with his tearaway front-running style of racing.

Vo Rogue was ridden by Queenslander Cyril Small throughout most of his career, which included six Group 1s. Vo Rogue amassed more than $3.1 million in prizemoney with 26 wins and 23 placings from 83 starts.

Small sees many similarities between Vo Rogue and Ciaron Maher’s Pride Of Jenni, who is chasing a historic win in the Group 1 Doomben Cup on Saturday.

If successful, Pride Of Jenni will become the oldest mare at eight to win the Doomben Cup since it was first run in 1933.

“Pride Of Jenni is one of the best in the country on her day,” the 67-year-old Small said. 

“But, unlike Vo Rogue, she can also handle damp conditions.”

Pride Of Jenni won her maiden on a heavy track and ran second in the Group 1 Makybe Diva at Flemington on a Heavy 9 in 2024.

The eight-year-old mare was the toast of Australian racing in her last appearance when she led all the way to win the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on May 9.

It was not a bad effort for a mare who came out of retirement after the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington in November of 2024.

“I was there when she won the Hollindale Stakes and she’s the closest horse I’ve seen to Vo Rogue,” Small said.

“She gets out in front and breaks their hearts just like what Vo Rogue did.

“Vo Rogue was a marvel and raced with sustained speed like Pride Of Jenni.

“While their opposition are looking to take a rest during a race, they can’t, as both Vo Rogue and Pride Of Jenni maintain such a high speed up front.

“Vo Rogue used to run 12 seconds to the furlong (200 metres), so the backmarkers needed to run very quick time to run him down much like what Pride Of Jenni does when she leads.”

Since making her comeback, Pride Of Jenni has gone on to win a further five times with a Listed victory, three Group 2s and the Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington in November of last year.

She also finished third in the Group 1 All-Star Mile and second in the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington in March.

Small still rides trackwork at the Gold Coast for his wife, trainer Lynlea Small, who has a small team in work.

“I’ve still got my riders’ licence, but it expires at the end of the month,” Small said.

“I intended to make a comeback to ride in races last year after I had a hip operation two years ago, so it doesn’t look like happening.”

Maher is chasing his second Doomben Cup after he claimed the race with his former training partner David Eustace when Kenedna won in 2019.

Kenedna joined Cooranga (1939), Cinque Cento (2007) and Streama (2014) as the previous oldest mares to win the Doomben Cup as five-year-olds.