Light Infantry Man upsets Pride Of Jenni in Australian Cup at Flemington

Trainer Ciaron Maher had a trio of gallopers racing in this weekend’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington Racecourse. However, it was the most unlikely of the three runners who ended up winning the $1,500,000 race: Light Infantry Man.

The six-year-old gelding finished a full two lengths ahead of Anthony & Sam Freedman’s Deny Knowledge ($11) to secure Maher’s first ever Australian Cup victory. 

“Career-best form”

As impressive as Light Infantry Man’s win was, it was also unexpected.

The betting sites gave the six-year-old import just $9 chances of winning. The betting favourite, Pride Of Jennie, entered the race with $3.80 odds to win.

Zardozi ($4.60), Atishu ($5.50), and Middle Earth ($6) also had better chances according to the betting apps.

Despite the odds, Maher said that he was actually confident about how Light Infantry Man would perform.

“I was pretty confident actually,” the trainer said, “I knew he’d enjoy that good tempo because of his races in Europe.”

Maher also added that he thinks Light Infantry Man is in the best form of his career after initially struggling when he came over from Europe last year.

“He’s just in career-best form. The team have done a great job with him. Browny rode him beautifully. He’s a strong horse and can sustain it.

“He just keeps improving, he put the writing on the wall in Perth. It’s fantastic, He won quite well.”

Jockey credits training team

Winning jockey Ethan Brown also had a lot of praise for Light Infantry Man after Saturday’s big race.

“He was always going to relish it, this bloke. The 2000m was never a worry for him, but all the cards fell our way today.

“It’s a long straight, that Flemington straight, but he really appreciates being ridden like that and I’m super rapt to get the job done today.”

Brown also praised Maher and the way Light Infantry Man’s ownership has handled their horse.

“I do go on about it a lot, but I just continue to get good support from Ciaron and this ownership group,” he said.

“They really have batted for me in the last six-to-12 months and put me on their good horses and it’s just so rewarding to deliver them results.”

Pride Of Jenni disappoints

Before Light Infantry Man upset the odds, Pride Of Jenni was front and centre in pre-race Flemington tips pieces. The three-time Group 1 winner failed to live up to the hype and finished 9th out of 10 runners.

Many worried that the mare had suffered another health scare, but Maher says she is “okay” and that Pride Of Jenni had not suffered another bleed. However,  she might be rested for the upcoming Sydney Carnival.

Jockey Craig Newitt was also asked about Pride Of Jenni’s status after the race. He could not explain the poor run.

“She flew the gates, and I was happy with the first couple of furlongs, and she had travelled well, and we got to the 1200 and they were still there

“I let her slide a little bit, but she was well and truly beaten at the thousand which was very unlike her.”