Mr Brightside Scores 10th G1 Victory in Makybe Diva

Mr Brightside (NZ) enhanced his reputation as a people's horse when he benefited from a Craig Williams riding lesson to secure a 10th elite-level success in the Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) Sept. 13. Williams gave his five rival jockeys a clinic in the Flemington feature, being allowed to set a crawling pace on the 8-year-old Mr Brightside, who was sent out as second choice behind the raging favorite Via Sistina (IRE) and James McDonald. Mr Brightside flopped into the lead from the start and cruised a length or more in front from the 1,400-meter to the 600-meter marks. The 48-year-old Williams let Mr Brightside go entering the straight and, full of running and with his rivals powerless to catch him, he dashed away to a three-length lead by the 200 meters, and ultimately scored by 1 1/2 lengths. ATC Derby (G1) winner Aeliana (NZ) was second with Via Sistina 0.4 lengths further back in third. While questions were asked of rival jockeys, Ben, JD, and Will Hayes could once again toast the most special horse of their time so far in charge of Lindsay Park as Mr Brightside extended his remarkable record. Bought from Phoenix Park's draft by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock at the Karaka May Sale of 2019 for just US$14,379, Mr Brightside has now earned AU$17.97 million. He's one of three stakes winners, and the only one west of the Tasman, from 109 runners for Bullbars (AUS). Mr Brightside's unraced dam, Lilahjay, has produced just one stakes winner from six foals to race, though to be fair, all of them have been winners, with two others scoring in metro class. Despite these humble pedigree notes, Mr Brightside has—as an emotional Williams noted—earned a place in the hearts of a legion of racing fans, enhanced with his third successive Makybe Diva Stakes success Saturday. "This horse, he just carries so many racing fans and people," Williams told Racing.com of the gelding named after the hit song by The Killers. "If you love the song, you've got him as well. He's just really captivated people around Australia. "He's the best, or one of the best milers in Australia on his day. He's the best on his day and one of the best when he's not. He's just a marvel." Ben Hayes paid tribute to Williams—and of course to Mr Brightside, now a 20-time winner from 46 starts. He cheekily called the durable gelding "technically" an 11-time group 1 winner, having also taken Melbourne's All-Star Mile in 2023, two years before it achieved top-tier status, while also highlighting the horse's 11 Group 1 placings. "It turned out beautifully. It was a 10-out-of-10 ride," Hayes said. "Tactically, he got an easy time early and because he got an easy time, they couldn't catch him, a champion like him. "We thought he had gone the right way. He paraded beautifully, it was typical Mr B. His coat has come on, but the good thing is, he's got improvement to come, and we're going to have fun placing him at his next couple of starts. "I'm so proud of him and for him to come back and win, to show how good he is, makes us so proud. For JD and Will and I, he's the most special horse we've ever had. "He's an absolute champion, no one can deny that now, and maybe people will start respecting him, and tipping him."