Memsie Stakes Tips - Can Pride Of Jenni overcome winless record when first up?

Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside are the class runners in the nine-horse field, while the others have the advantage of fitness on their side. 

Pride Of Jenni has finished ahead of Mr Brightside in four of the five occasions they have clashed. Interestingly, the two met when resuming in the autumn at the track and trip in the Orr Stakes and it was Mr Brightside that knuckled down in the shadows of the post to defeat the mare in narrow fashion. But it was all one-way traffic in the three runs after that between the two. 

Mr Brightside went 12.7 lengths faster than standard benchmark when taking out the Orr Stakes. Pride Of Jenni went on to have a remarkable campaign, culminating with her seven lenght win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)when leading by 34 lenghts at the 800m mark. 

But it should be pointed out that she has never won when first up in seven attempts. Mr Brightside has saluted on three occasions from his seven fresh runs. 

Antino is solid in the market and comes into this with just over two months in between runs. The Queenslander has performed well in Melbourne in the past and was a fresh winner at Eagle Farm in the autumn, taking out the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m). 

The Tony Gollan-trained galloper was runner-up in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) last year, going 15.6 lenghts faster than standard and a performance like that will have him in the mix in this race. 

Gentleman Roy has returned to form in a big way in recent times and claimed the PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17, going 10.3 lengths faster than standard benchmark. 

Gentleman Roy is a chance to sit alongside Pride Of Jenni up front and must be respected on current form. Pinstriped filled the exacta in the PB Lawrence and just peaked late at what was his first run back. The Enver Jusufovic-trained galloper took out the Feehan Stakes (1600m) last year at his previous second up run. 

Aegon also comes out of the PB Lawrence Stakes, finishing 4th. He should enjoy a solid tempo in the race and will be running on but it is hard to see him and the others in the field troubling the favoured runners. 

I am keen on Pride Of Jenni to pick up from where she left off in the autumn. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare produced some extraordinary performances when claiming the All-Star Mile (1600m)and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). She has finished ahead of Mr Brightside in four of the five occsions that the two have met. The slight question mark is her first up form and she is winless in seven attempts when fresh but she has clearly improved with age and just went down in the Orr Stakes (1400m) at her last prepration. Expect her to lead and adopt the catch me if you can tactics that have delivered her some big wins in the past. 

Gentleman Roy presents appeal at the each-way quote. After a number of below-par runs at the back end of his 2023 campaign and the start of his 2024 campaign, the eight-year-old seems to be back at his best. Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside are the class runners but the old-boy has the fitness on his side. Gentleman Roy will sit just behind the Queen Elizabeth winner and will keep her in his sights. He is capable of maintaining a high cruising speed, while keeping enough in the tank at the business end to pull off a bit of an upset.