3/12/2020 Latest Pakenham Cup news

Photo: Matt Cumani 

Matt Cumani will bid for back-to-back Pakenham Cup (Listed, 2500m) successes on Saturday, with Creedence (Helmet) aiming to match Etah James’ (Raise The Flag) 60-1 upset last year. Creedence finished eighth in last year’s contest when prepared by Lindsay Park, but has been rejuvenated since joining Cumani in the middle of the year, finishing sixth in the Bart Cummings (Gr 3, 2510m) and Geelong Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) and fourth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 2600m) at Flemington. "He's probably just below the top class and that's why I diverted from the Lexus to the Queen Elizabeth," Cumani said. "He's a nice, tough stayer who should be suited in a race like the Pakenham Cup, which will be slightly easier."

The David Brideoake-trained Princess Jenni (High Chaparral) will line-up in the $300,000 feature, with the last-start Bendigo Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) winner having recovered from a foot abscess in time to take her chance. "The foot abscess meant she couldn't run in the Zipping Classic, which was a bit of a nuisance, but we've pressed on and she's coming into this race fresh and in good shape," Brideoake told Racing.com. Princess Jenni, a winner of six of her 19 outings, will once again be partnered by Jye McNeil on Saturday and Brideoake added: “Jye rode her so well at Bendigo and it's nice to have his services again as he's really taken giant steps in his career.” Princess Jenni will shoulder 61 kilograms in the Pakenham Cup and she has drawn barrier ten.

In early betting markets Creedence is $5.50 and Princess Jenni is $6. Check out the latest betting markets | Ratings