The spring majors are calling for Team Hayes‘ stable ace Mr Brightside who retained his undefeated weight-for-age mile record with a stunning win in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Winner Mr Brightside has the Group 1 King Charles II Stakes and Cox Plate races in his sights. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The gun galloper made it five straight wins and was bullish late, flying home the closing stages to run past the gallant Alligator Blood and salute as the odds-on favourite by 1.5 lengths in the feature race at headquarters.
Mr Brightside was dominant at the tail-end of the autumn winning the $5 million The All-Star Mile along with the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
He was back in winning form fresh in the Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes, won the Group 1 Memsie Stakes also over 1400m at Caulfield, and then became the first horse since Dissident (2014) to complete the Memsie – Makybe Diva Stakes with a bold showing third-up.
Craig Williams continued associations with the six-year-old son of Bullbars and timed his run to perfection, letting the race unfold before taking a sit third off the speed as Alligator Blood crossed to lead.
It was a slowly run edition of the race, but the lack of pace didn’t stop the versatile champ who began to pick them up with 300m to go.
He quickly joined the Gator in the lead before hitting the button to fly past him inside the final furlong and proved far too strong over his pet distance.
Alligator Blood had to settle for second again having also finished runner-up to I’m Thunderstruck in the race last year.
Third went to the improving Chris Waller-trained Osipenko who made up late ground to finish off the trifecta.
“He was a superstar today,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
“He travelled so strongly.
“He won well. So proud of him. He’s an incredible horse.
“To have a horse like this is what you work for. To get these results is just huge.
“Big thank you and 10/10 to Craig he rode that beautiful.
“Flemington’s the number one track in Australia and to have a horse of his quality to be able to win and win like he did.
“He really stamped his authority today and he’s definitely the horse to catch now.”
Hayes confirmed the likely next-up target for Mr Brightside would be a trip to Sydney’s Royal Randwick on The Everest Day, October 14, for the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m).
“We’ll see how he pulls up first. At this stage we are leaning towards Sydney for the King Charles,” he said.
“He’s undefeated at weight-for-age over a mike and that’s two weeks into Cox Plate and I think that’s pretty good for him.”
The Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) takes place at Moonee Valley on October 28.
Pre-field 2023 King Charles III Stakes betting at Ladbrokes has Mr Brightside on top at $2.50, while the horse is the current $6 all-in second elect for the 2023 Cox Plate.
