Strong Caulfield hitout positions Pride Of Jenni for Australian Cup challenge
Trainer Ciaron Maher moved a select bunch of his string from Cranbourne to Caulfield for trackwork early Tuesday.
Evergreen mare Pride Of Jenni formed part of that group, ramping up for her engagement a fortnight from now on Saturday.
Maher pointed to the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) over 2000m at Flemington as the favoured next port of call for Pride Of Jenni, though the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in a month's time remains an option.
The mare launched her autumn return by placing third to Tom Kitten in the All-Star Mile (1600m) held at Flemington March 7.
According to Maher, Pride Of Jenni derived the anticipated benefits from her comeback and breezed powerfully solo at Caulfield.
"Dec (Declan Bates) said she was wanting to pull him in half early in the gallop, so that's always good to see," Maher said.
"She had a nice blow after her first-up run where she ran pretty quick time, fresh up, so she will take natural improvement and she wasn't here (this morning) to bring her on or anything, it was just a tick over gallop.
"I'm quite happy with how she came through her first-up run. Her weight is good, her action is good and she just had an easy time this morning.
"The Australian Cup or the Queen Of The Turf, is next, but at this stage the Australian Cup.
"You would think Flemington is more chance of being drier than Sydney, but the main thing is she came through it well and we'll track towards the Australian Cup."
Middle Earth and newcomer from the UK King Of The Sea also joined Pride Of Jenni on the trip.
Middle Earth prepares for an extended autumn into winter targets up north in Queensland prior to a spring Cups assault in Melbourne, as King Of The Sea settles into Australian racing after arriving at Maher's base this year.
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