Craig Williams understands that his memorable partnership with Mr Brightside is destined to conclude at some stage, but he is relishing the prospect of a sixth Spring Carnival campaign with the gelding.
The champion jockey is scheduled to reunite with the nine-year-old, prepared by the training partnership of Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, for this Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
This 1400-metre weight-for-age contest is a race that Williams and Mr Brightside conquered together in 2023, and they have also secured the runner-up position for the last two years.
Saturday’s race will mark the 45th time Williams has ridden the son of Bullbars, a horse on whom he has achieved 18 victories. These include the Memsie Stakes, a hat-trick of Makybe Diva Stakes wins, two Futurity Stakes, a Doncaster Mile, and an Orr Stakes, all at the highest level.
“I’ve been lucky to ride 90 Group 1 winners in my career, and I’ve ridden some phenomenal horses, but I’ve won more Group 1 races on him than any other horse.
“That just tells you what he means to me.
“The other part that makes it so special is that I was part of his development. I won his maiden on him and was part of his placement and his development to be that horse.
“He didn’t just step out and become a Group 1 horse.
“The (Hayes) boys have just managed him so well and I’m looking forward to him being back at the racetrack.”
Following a track gallop at Sandown last Saturday where Café Millenium finished ahead of him, some suggested that the end of his racing career might be imminent. However, Williams and the Hayes brothers were pleased with the horse’s efforts.
Similar concerns were voiced before last year’s Memsie Stakes after a seemingly subdued final jumpout. Nevertheless, Mr Brightside rebounded to finish ahead of all bar Treasurethe Moment in Victoria’s first Group 1 race of the season, followed by a third consecutive Makybe Diva Stakes triumph.
Williams pointed to the fact that Mr Brightside has not raced since his fifth placing in the Champions Mile at Flemington last November, to bolster his confidence that the horse is well-prepared.
“My job is to ride him on raceday, in trials and a couple of gallops and he’s never been an impressive worker,” Williams said. “He has worked better before, but he’s never been what you would say is an impressive worker and he has had a little bit longer layoff this time. He seems like he’s going really well.”
Mr Brightside is aiming to join an elite group as the 12th multiple winner of the Memsie Stakes. He could also become only the second horse to achieve this feat in non-consecutive years, with Sir Boom having previously won in 1996 and 1999.
Last year’s Memsie Stakes featured seven individual Group 1 winners, and this year’s renewal presents a similarly competitive field. Among the 17 entries are Treasurethe Moment, Jimmysstar, Autumn Boy, Beiwacht, and Cosmic Crusader, all Group 1 winners, along with 12 other elite-level contenders.
With the Memsie Stakes fast approaching, exploring Australian betting sites is recommended for the latest racing odds.
