Lindsay Park’s celebrated horse Mr Brightside is set to defend his perfect record in a Group 1 race at Flemington.
Mr Brightside has contested the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday for the past three years, emerging victorious on each occasion.
In his first win, he defeated Alligator Blood, then ran down Pride Of Jenni in 2024, and last year he finished ahead of Aeliana.
Via Sistina, who later secured the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley the subsequent month, finished behind Mr Brightside in his last two Makybe Diva Stakes victories.
The conditions in Mr Brightside’s favour for his three wins included small fields, which allowed the now nine-year-old gelding to control the speed.
Last year, he maintained a slow pace upfront, clocking 1:38.75 and sprinting home the last 600m in 32.66 seconds.
This year’s field has grown to 13 acceptors, but Mr Brightside has drawn well in gate two. With regular rider Craig Williams partnering Sir Delius, Blake Shinn will take the reins.
Mr Brightside’s enduring quality is reflected in his 20 wins from 49 starts and earnings of over $19 million.
He has largely been injury-free, although a small bone chip in a fetlock kept the gelding from racing earlier in the year.
This break allowed Mr Brightside a longer spell than usual and a solid build-up for his return.
J D Hayes, who trains the gelding with his brothers Ben and Will, described Mr Brightside as a ‘freak’ following his first-up second to Beiwacht in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
“He’s never let us down,” Hayes said.
“He’s a freak and nothing surprises you when it comes to him.
“He was there at the top of the straight, he was vulnerable to the opposition, but he fought like a tiger and held on for second.
“The way it was looking he was going to run fourth, or fifth, we felt, but he dug deep and showed he is a true champion, but the winner was too good.”
Hayes mentioned that Mr Brightside has shown considerable improvement from his Memsie Stakes run, as it was his first race of the year.
“He’s improved, physically, as you would expect out of it after a long time off,” Hayes stated.
“He’s tightened up beautifully and the Flemington mile, plus if there was any rain, it would be great.”
Betting sites offer a wide range of Australian betting sites for this feature race.
