Damien Oliver returns to scale aboard Princess Jenni (Image: Racing Photos)
Princess Jenni was being set for a relatively light spring carnival, but things could really heat up for the star mare after she thrashed fellow mares in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at The Valley.
Last autumn’s Group 1 Schweppes Oaks winner is on a path to the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington but that path has many twists and turns with some of those leading to races such as the $5 million Cox Plate or even the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle for four-year-olds in Sydney.
Princess Jenni’s ($3.90 fav) margin was just three quarters of a length over Rondinella ($8) but she won with something in hand after coming from second last through traffic to score softly.
WATCH: Princess Jenni wins the Stocks Stakes.
It has taken Princess Jenni just two runs this campaign to prove she has made that large step from an elite filly to mare with her victory, which has opened up any number of options this spring.
Trainer David Brideoake’s stable foreman Alex Woodhams said Princess Jenni had been paid-up for in the Golden Eagle and Cox Plate, but that the intent was to aim at the Group 1 Empire Rose.
Jockey Damien Oliver, who registered an early double with the victory after scoring aboard opening winner Barcali, said he felt Princess Jenni mare needed to fill out into her frame still and may not be ‘’fully there yet’’.
WATCH: Hear from Damien Oliver after Princess Jenni's Group 2 win.