Third straight Makybe Diva Stakes for Mr Brightside
Mr Brightside wrote another chapter in his remarkable career on Saturday, storming to his tenth Group 1 win by making all the running in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. The Lindsay Park-trained star became the first male galloper to complete a treble in the famous mile event, joining an exclusive list of mares including Makybe Diva, Black Caviar, Tranquil Star and Wakeful.
With Craig Williams dictating from the front, the $5 chance controlled proceedings before striding clear for a 1-½ length win over Aeliana ($5), with Via Sistina ($1.80 fav) battling on into third. It was redemption for Mr Brightside after running second in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes first-up at Caulfield.
Trainer Ben Hayes said everything fell into place for the stable’s champion. “It was a 10-out-of-10 ride. Tactically he got an easy time early and because he got an easy time, they couldn’t catch him, a champion like him,” Hayes said. “To win three Makybe Diva’s and make it 10 Group 1’s, he’s an amazing horse.”
Since being acquired in 2021, Mr Brightside has been the bedrock of the Hayes brothers’ operation, amassing prizemoney and prestige while serving as the team’s flagbearer. Hayes also noted the gelding’s “true” Group 1 tally includes the 2023 All-Star Mile.
Looking forward, the stable is leaning towards keeping him at his pet distance. “He’s so good over a mile. His mile record is amazing,” Hayes said. “The Feehan is probably the next logical race, or maybe he trials and goes straight to the King Charles III in Sydney. We’ll talk it through, but the Cox Plate remains an option.”
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