A Photo Finish Thriller: Light Infantry Man Edges Out Pride Of Jenni in Australian Cup Classic
Flemington Racecourse played host to a dramatic showdown on Saturday, where two of racing’s most compelling narratives collided in the Group 1 Australian Cup. In a finish so tight it required a magnified photo, jockey Harry Coffey piloted Light Infantry Man to victory by the barest of margins, narrowly pipping the crowd favourite, Pride Of Jenni.
The thrilling conclusion saw the popular jockey, Harry Coffey, a prominent figure for those living with cystic fibrosis, secure his second major race win in less than two years. His previous triumph came in the 2024 Caulfield Cup, further cementing his status as a beloved personality in the racing world. The pair edged out the brave front-running mare, Pride Of Jenni, by the slimmest of margins, with the mare having led the 2000-metre race right up to the final strides.
As the announcement was made, Coffey’s face broke into a wide smile, a stark contrast to the dismay etched on the face of Pride Of Jenni’s owner, Tony Ottobre. Moments before the official result, Ottobre had been celebrating what he believed was a hard-fought victory for his mare. However, upon viewing the enlarged photo finish, he appeared visibly disappointed, even approaching the stewards to examine the image.
This nail-biting defeat marks the second time in three years that Pride Of Jenni has been denied Australian Cup glory by a narrow margin. In 2024, she finished a close second to Cascadian. For Ottobre, who harbours a deep desire to win this particular race, the outcome was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow. While he initially appeared to be overcome by a sense of injustice, he ultimately accepted the judge’s decision after reviewing the photo finish.
Ultimately, the true winner of this gripping contest was trainer Ciaron Maher. With both Light Infantry Man and Pride Of Jenni under his charge, Maher found himself in an enviable position, unable to lose regardless of the photo finish’s outcome.
A Trainer’s Pride and a Jockey’s Gratitude
“I don’t know who I’m more proud of, the winner or the second horse,” Maher commented after the race, his voice filled with a mix of elation and empathy. “It’s such a shame for Jenni to run second again. I know for Tony [Ottobre], it’s a race he holds very dear to his heart. He strapped back in the day a horse for [Colin] Hayes.”
He continued, “It still eludes her, but she’s racing in great heart, and you never know, we may be back here with her next year. She was phenomenal. I thought it was going to be a spectacular race and to be fighting it out with two of your own, it’s pretty cool.”
Maher highlighted the crucial role of advice from Light Infantry Man’s regular rider, Ethan Brown, who was serving a suspension. “He’s a unique horse, in the way he has to be ridden,” Maher explained. “Browny understands him well, and I asked him to pass on some of that information last start and Harry didn’t really get it until he had finished the race [finishing fourth of seven]. He rode him perfect today. The start is very important for him. He blasted him straight out of the gates.”
Harry Coffey echoed his trainer’s sentiments, crediting Brown’s pre-race advice as a pivotal factor. “He sent me a text this morning saying, ‘I see it is going to be pretty wet, make sure you give him a nice warm-up to the gates to let him know how open that track is because he’s a smart horse, and he’ll come to the conditions, but you just have to let him know’,” Coffey shared. “So, thank you, Browny.”
Defying the Odds: Harry Coffey’s Inspiring Journey
Harry Coffey’s victory is particularly poignant given his personal battle with cystic fibrosis. Diagnosed as an infant, his parents once feared he wouldn’t live past his teenage years. However, through advancements in medication, the 30-year-old jockey continues to compete and excel at the highest level of the sport. Now a married father of one, he has achieved four Group 1 victories, a testament to his resilience and determination.
“I’ve been fortunate to ride some bloody nice horses in my career and winning races like this is extremely special, especially when you’re from a race family,” Coffey reflected. “Tradition, history, and to put your name next to it and be a part of it, it is everything that people want in racing and we are lucky to have it.”
The Lindsay Park-trained Apulia finished third in the Australian Cup, with jockey Ethan Bates describing Pride Of Jenni as a “warrior” despite the frustrating second-place finish. “I don’t think I have ever asked of a horse what I asked of her today,” Bates admitted. “I really asked her to extend quite early, and she responded so gallantly. Frustrating not to win, obviously, but I am delighted for Harry. I’m really happy with my horse.”
Earlier in the day, the Glen Thompson-trained stayer Whiskey On The Hill secured a Melbourne Cup berth by winning the 2600m Roy Higgins.
A Farm Reborn: The Hayes Family’s Resilience Amidst Firestorm
The recent Australian Cup meeting also brought to the forefront the incredible resilience of the Hayes family, trainers at Lindsay Park. The devastating bushfires earlier this year had a profound impact on their Euroa farm, leaving a stark reminder of the destruction.
J.D. Hayes, one of the three brothers alongside Ben and Will who now manage the iconic Lindsay Park operation, recounted the harrowing experience of the January bushfires. The blaze tragically claimed the lives of seven horses, destroyed Ben’s home, and decimated a stable complex and hay shed. Despite the immense loss, J.D. emphasised the element of fortune. “We were lucky,” he stated. “It hit 95 per cent of our farm, but the irrigation saved our main stables and our tracks. We had 350 horses on the property… only seven didn’t make it.”
The family’s ordeal began on January 8th when J.D. and his twin brother Will returned to the farm due to the escalating threat. Ben was away at the Magic Millions sales. The Hume Freeway was closed, and evacuations were underway. “We got to the turn off, literally when you come into the farm, and we got the call from the CFA saying you’re about to be burnt,” J.D. recalled. “There was just smoke. Like, I’ve never seen smoke like it. It was unbelievable.”
The initial hours were a blur of smoke and fear. Fifteen Country Fire Authority (CFA) trucks battled the blaze at their property line, and a fortunate wind change diverted the main fire front, granting them a temporary reprieve. However, the respite was short-lived. Friday brought a “perfect storm” of 90km/h winds and 45-degree heat, reigniting the firestorm.
The Hayes family, along with their parents David and Prue, and farm staff, worked tirelessly to combat spot fires. However, with the fire front visible and the conditions extreme, they made the difficult decision to evacuate. “So we fuelled up all the generators, turned the sprinklers on, and that was the worst feeling of all, leaving on Friday afternoon, just thinking that this could be it. It was just terrible,” J.D. recounted.
The family waited anxiously in Shepparton for news. They learned that the Criterion stables and Ben and Grace’s house were gone. The CFA had been instrumental in defending the property, even contemplating releasing horses if the main stable complex was threatened.
Upon returning to the farm that night, they found fences destroyed and horses roaming freely. Remarkably, the horses displayed an incredible calmness, even jumping over fire fronts to reach burnt ground. The following day saw an extraordinary effort to relocate 130 horses. The racing industry rallied, with trainers like Ciaron Maher and Chris Waller, along with smaller trainers and even a suspended jockey, offering trucks and assistance. Inglis opened their sales complex at Oaklands Junction to stable the horses, with the entire evacuation completed in just three hours.
“The racing industry is an incredible industry,” J.D. stated. “When the chips are down, people come and help.”
Despite the immense stress of the clean-up, insurance claims, and relocating horses, the Hayes family continued with their racing commitments. The personal toll was significant, with Ben and Grace losing their recently renovated home and valuable memorabilia, including items belonging to their grandfather, C.S. Hayes.
However, as green shoots emerge at Lindsay Park, the Hayes family is rebuilding. They are replacing fences, planning a new stable complex, and constructing a new home for Ben and Grace. “You always think, ‘Oh, it won’t happen to us’,” J.D. mused. “But we’ve lost that mentality now because it’s happened twice in 10 years. We just get prepared now. It could have been much worse, but our system stood up to save as many horses as we did, and save the property as well.”
This week, the brothers are focused on their runners at Flemington, including the smart two-year-old Gin Twist, Godolphin sprinter Pisanello, and Australian Cup contender Apulia. “He [Apulia] won the Perth Cup on the first of January, and then we burnt down seven days later,” Hayes said. “Winning on Saturday is not beyond him. We’ve put the blinkers on. He’s a very good Flemington horse, and he put the writing on the wall that he’s looking for 2000 metres. We’re quietly confident that he’s not going to let us down.”
