King Charles III Stakes Tips - Boom or bust for Pride Of Jenni in $5 million mile?

The Chris Waller-trained mare comes into this third up and claimed the 7 Stakes (1600m) at her most recent start ahead of Lindermann, while last year’s King Charles III Stakes winner, Ceolwulf, was 3rd. 

Fangirl went 10.8 lengths faster than standard benchmark but it is the $4.40 fancy, Pride Of Jenni, that comes in with the best last start figure of any runner, having gone 12.7 lengths faster than standard with her first up win in the Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley. The daring leader will be out to go one better after finishing runner-up in this race last year. Tom Kitten (4th) was part of the beaten brigade in the Feehan. 

Pride Of Jenni’s old sparring partner, Mr Brightside, is the other last start winner in the race, getting away with a dawdling tempo up front in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last time and might push up from barrier 12 to sit within striking distance. 

There is an international flavour to the race this year with the appearance of Lake Forest, who pulled off a stunning heist to claim the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill last year. He has not won in five starts since then but has some world class form and has to be respected. 

Five runners come out of the Epsom, including the 3rd placegetter, Pericles, who carted 57kg and didn't have huge amounts of luck. 

Within The Law brings a bit of X-factor and a three-year-old filly with just 48kg on her back. She was runner-up behind Apocalyptic in the Flight Stakes (1600m) at her most recent start but is likely to need to produce a big personal best in this race.  

We can expect Pride Of Jenni to settle up front and eventually click through the gears after she settles and potentially open up a margin. Pace should be solid with Royal Patronage and Pericles among those that could drag the chasing peloton towards the mare as they approach the bend. Mr Brightside is expected to push up to be handy from his barrier. Ceolwulf, Lake Forest, Tom Kitten and Fangirl are among those that will settle towards the tail and are among the potential closers. 

Lake Forest is the value at the price, particularly given the fact that he has conquered Sydney before in a massive race, while his trainer, William Haggas, has an unbelievable record in Australia, saddling up 11 winners from 23 runners, including six Group 1 races. Lake Forest will no doubt enjoy the solid tempo up in front of him, while he will be ridden by one of the world’s best, Zac Purton, who can save plenty of ground early on from barrier 2. 

Pride Of Jenni is in this up to her eyeballs, despite her tendency to bomb out, as she has done in four of her past seven runs. Three of those were over the 2000m, while the other was when she bled over the 1600m. Her past three starts over the mile have been dominant and if she produces anything like her Feehan Stakes run, she will be hard to get past, particularly if the other jockeys in the race allow her to dictate. She was strong in the last 200m of her last start, producing the fastest late split and should strip fitter.