Ageing mares add Cup sparkle

Racing fans have been blessed since the turn of the century with the number of high-quality mares that have continued their racing careers as they have aged. 

In years gone by, a mare with a solid race record, would have been whisked off to the breeding barn by the time she was five, maybe six at a push. 

Let's Elope raced on, being a seven-year-old when she was eventually retired from racing in the US, Sunline was that age when she ran in her fourth Cox Plate, having won two, finishing second once and fourth in her final attempt. 

Makybe Diva was seven when retired after winning her third Melbourne Cup and Winx was seven when retired after the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick after compiling four Cox Plate victories. 

Bella Nipotina was the latest seven-year-old retiree, banking more than $22.5 million prize money while Via Sistina sits within that age group and has seven Australian Group 1 victories to her name after just 12 months of racing on these shores, including last week's Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. 

Thankfully these days the mares seem to be carrying the can with many of the best young colts and geldings either being whisked off to Hong Kong, for huge sale prices, or to make their fortune standing at stud. 

Three seven-year-old mares are set to do battle in the Group 1 TAB Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday – Atishu, Deny Knowledge and Pride Of Jenni. 

The trio are all Group 1 winners, although Pride Of Jenni is yet to collect a win at the highest level in her seven-year-old season, having finished runner-up on two occasions. 

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Deny Knowledge collected her Group 1 victory in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) last spring defeating Mr Brightside and Atishu. 

Sam Freedman said he was looking forward to tackling another Group 1 race on Saturday with Deny Knowledge. 

"It looks like it will be a truly run race," Freedman told RSN. 

"We'll be ridden in the same manner that we've been successful doing so in the past. We know we've got an honest mare that runs out a really strong, fast run 2000 metres. 

"I think where she has a bit of versatility is that she will be able to chase that speed and sit close to it, whereas I think a lot of Pride Of Jenni's competitors haven't been able to absorb that sort of pace and kick off it." 

Freedman said it would be an interesting contest as the pressure was likely to come on from the 800m which could set the race up for something that sits back off them. 

"There's a chance that we bust each other up from a fair way out, but I wouldn't swap our mare with anything there," Freedman said. 

"She's her own worst nightmare. She's so hard on herself, but she is so genuine. She's like a freight train, she doesn't know how to stop. 

"It feels like it's one of the best Australian Cups for some time. It will be a fascinating contest. 

"It will be on a nice track, on a big day, so hopefully it's a good contest." 

Freedman said Deny Knowledge's program had been built around Saturday's race with any thoughts on heading to Sydney to be decided post the Australian Cup.