Pride Of Jenni and Declan Bates gallop at Caulfield before All-Star Mile

Declan Bates linked up with Pride Of Jenni for a workout at Caulfield, where both trimmed down in readiness for their combination in the All-Star Mile.

On Tuesday morning, Ciaron Maher led a tight-knit selection of gallopers to Caulfield, with Pride Of Jenni prominent as she readies for her initial appearance in the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) over 1600m at Flemington on March 7.

Having not competed since an injury on December 6 in a gate accident at Ballarat jump-outs, Bates rode the mare during the exercise while boosting his own sharpness for a racetrack reappearance, potentially this Friday at Terang.

In that barrier occurrence, the Irish rider broke his pelvis and sacrum, calling it 'a nasty one'.

"It's a frustrating injury because you can't give it any relief," Bates said.

"Sitting down you're putting pressure on it and even lying in bed you're putting pressure on it.

"That's why in the first month you don't feel like you're healing at all, so I was a little bit worried with the injury at first, but once it started coming good, in the last month especially, there has been rapid improvement and luckily, I'll be back ahead of schedule."

For more than a week now, Bates has been back astride horses at trackwork, managing 'eight or nine' at Monday's Cranbourne jump-outs.

He expressed anticipation for resuming race mounts and honing his condition before linking back with Pride Of Jenni for the All-Star Mile.

"My fitness needs to tighten up a bit, but that's going to come as I go along," Bates said.

"I was keen to get back racing two weeks before the All-Star Mile and that way it gives me a good two weeks of race riding before then.

"Like me, she's got a bit of fitness to come on, but she feels her usual self, enthusiastic in her work, and that's what I wanted to see.

"It's good to have a nice horse to look forward to. You always want to get back as quick as possible and when you have a nice horse it really helps the motivation to get back as strong and healthy as possible."

The jockey has guided Pride Of Jenni through 19 of 43 races, claiming four Group 1 victories, including her famous 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) win at Randwick. Race enthusiasts can find plenty of action in the racing betting markets for the All-Star Mile.

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