Mr Brightside pumps home to win second Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington ahead of arch-rival Pride Of Jenni

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Mr Brightside pumps home to win second Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington ahead of arch-rival Pride Of Jenni

Cult hero and heroine Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni have paired off in a memorable Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes duel, with the former gaining the ascendancy late to edge home in a thriller.

Showing her regular alertness, Pride Of Jenni ($5.50 on TABtouch) raced to the lead after the break and set about establishing her customary long mid-race lead while Mr Brightside ($3.50) coasted along in third.

By halfway of the 1600m Flemington contest, Pride Of Jenni was seven lengths ahead of Antino ($14) with Mr Brightside a further length-and-a-half away in third.

Straightening with 450m to go, Pride Of Jenni’s margin had been shaved to a dwindling three lengths with Mr Brightside now hooked to the outside.

However, with sheer determination, Pride Of Jenni kept giving in front and still held the lead with 100m to go.

With 50m left, Mr Brightside drew level and eventually inched clear to win by a neck from a typically gutsy Pride Of Jenni and Antino next best more than four lengths away.

The win was Mr Brightside’s seventh Group 1 triumph and provided jockey Craig Williams with his fifth victory in the race.

“I was very bullish about his chances today,” Williams said.

“The way he felt, the way he pulled up (after last start). It was a ******* slog today, but he’s got that tenacity to win. He’s an amazing racehorse.

“What I love about this horse (is that) I was here since his third ever race start. I think we wasted three rating points on a horse like him.

“Once he got to weight-for-age they were just a bit stronger and better than him.

“Now he’s a finished product … he’s one of the best milers in Australia. He is an absolute delight. The boys even added another gear change today, so they’re still working on him.”

Ben Hayes, training in partnership with brothers JD and Will, said the quirky customer had developed a new idiosyncrasy that had forced the change.

“He’s got this habit now. He just sucks his ******* back, and we just feel sometimes he gets his ******* over, and we don’t want that to happen in a race,” Hayes said.

“So, we played around with the ******* tie, and we felt that just more annoyed him, and he still got his ******* out.

“Today we just put the ******* control bit on. It’s just enough to stop him getting his ******* back, and we can relax as trainers.”

Earlier, WA galloper Alsephina ($7.50) turned in a mighty performance to run third in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) behind Gringzinger Belle.

Caught wide from a deep barrier, jockey Blake Shinn was forced to position the mare three-wide without cover while Grinzinger Belle set the gallop in front.

As Grinzinger Belle ($15) abandoned the pack up the home straight, Alsephina fought bravely to run third as See You In Heaven ($6) ran past her late down the outside.

The effort shaped as a perfect lead-up to the Stock Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley on September 27.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Brightside #pumps #home #win #Makybe #Diva #Stakes #Flemington #ahead #archrival #Pride #Jenni

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up