By Sean Cronin
The Johnston barn had not annexed Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes since Marie De Medicis won in 2010 and bridged a 16-year gap with an impressive front-running performance by Russell Trew and Townbraccan's Jennifer Jane (New Bay) in the 10-furlong Oaks trial at HQ.
“I wasn't certain the step up in trip would work, but you have to be adaptable and think on your feet,” said Charlie Johnston. “The plan at that point was to start in the [Listed] Michael Seely [Memorial] at York in a couple of weeks, but when I saw the entries for this I thought it was worth a look at. Physically she has grown from two to three and, pedigree-wise, you would perhaps worry about the trip. She looks like a mile-and-a-quarter filly, so it was worth a try and she's clearly stayed it well.”
Looking ahead, the trainer added, “She's in the [G1] Irish [1000] Guineas, but I wouldn't have thought you would come back two furlongs after that. She hadn't wintered great and was quite light through the spring so, frustratingly, I haven't been too ambitious with the entries. That might have to change now. She's not in the [G1] Oaks, but this trip feels right and she has a nice blend of speed and stamina.”
The 11-2 chance, who is not yet engaged in the Epsom feature, was sharp from the stalls and poached an immediate advantage. Holding sway throughout, she came under pressure to maintain a high tempo approaching the quarter-mile marker and romped clear in taking fashion up the hill to easily defeat Sacred Ground (Kingman) by a facile six lengths.
Jennifer Jane enjoyed a four-race juvenile campaign, stepping up from a debut seventh at Kempton with a breakthrough at Wetherby before running second in July's Listed Star Stakes at Sandown. She closed last term with a seventh-of-seven finish in August's G3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood.
Jennifer Jane, half-sister to a two-year-old filly by Bayside Boy, is the fourth of five foals and lone black-type performer from three winners produced by a multiple-winning daughter of Listed Prix Contessina victrix and G3 Prix d'Arenberg and G3 Prix Eclipse runner-up Crossover (Cape Cross).
Crossover, whose descendants include stakes-winning G3 Ballyogan Stakes third Lady Penelope (Night Of Thunder), is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to storied US and Canadian champion Fanfreluche (Northern Dancer).
Jennifer Jane (New Bay) makes all and bolts up under @SilvDSousa in the Oliver Brown Pretty Polly Stakes! @Johnston_Racing pic.twitter.com/M1NhGiFxGI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 3, 2026
Sunday, Newmarket, Britain
OLIVER BROWN PRETTY POLLY STAKES-Listed, £60,000, Newmarket, 5-3, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:03.00, g/f.
1–JENNIFER JANE (IRE), 128, f, 3, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Enlace (GB), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Crossover (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
3rd Dam: Somfas, by What A Pleasure
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€50,000 Ylg '24 TATIRY). O-Russell Trew & Townbraccan; B-Rathbran House Stud & Rosetown Bloodstock; T-Charlie Johnston; J-Silvestre De Sousa. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $64,419.
2–Sacred Ground (GB), 128, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Anapurna (GB), by Frankel (GB). (550,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Marcstown Ltd & Andrew Rosen; B-Meon Valley Stud; T-John & Thady Gosden. £12,900.
3–Spinning Lizzie (GB), 128, f, 3, Kameko–Cockney Dancer (GB), by Cockney Rebel (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (40,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE). O-Chris Stedman; B-The Cockney Dancer Partnership; T-Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole. £6,456.
Margins: 6, HF, 3/4. Odds: 5.50, 2.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Esna (Ire), Brigid's Well (Ire), Maldives (Ire). Scratched: Lilt (GB).
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