Champion jockey Craig Williams acknowledges that his incredible partnership with Mr Brightside will eventually conclude, but he is eagerly anticipating their sixth Spring Carnival together with the gelding.
The renowned rider is set to partner the nine-year-old, trained by Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, in this Saturday’s prestigious $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
This 1400-metre weight-for-age race is one where Williams and Mr Brightside achieved victory in 2023, and they have also secured second place in the event for the past two years.
Saturday’s outing will mark Williams’ 45th race aboard the son of Bullbars, a horse on whom he has celebrated 18 wins. These victories include the Memsie Stakes, a treble of Makybe Diva Stakes, two Futurity Stakes, a Doncaster Mile, and an Orr Stakes, all at the highest level.
“I’ve been lucky to ride 90 Group 1 winners in my career, and I’ve ridden some phenomenal horses, but I’ve won more Group 1 races on him than any other horse.
“That just tells you what he means to me.
“The other part that makes it so special is that I was part of his development. I won his maiden on him and was part of his placement and his development to be that horse.
“He didn’t just step out and become a Group 1 horse.
“The (Hayes) boys have just managed him so well and I’m looking forward to him being back at the racetrack.”
Following a track gallop at Sandown last Saturday where he was outpaced by Café Millenium, some suggested his racing days might be nearing an end. However, both Williams and the Hayes brothers expressed satisfaction with the horse’s performance.
Similar sentiments arose before last year’s Memsie Stakes after a seemingly unremarkable final jumpout. Despite this, Mr Brightside rallied to finish second, behind only Treasurethe Moment, in Victoria’s inaugural Group 1 race of the season, followed by a third consecutive Makybe Diva Stakes triumph.
Williams highlighted that Mr Brightside has not competed since his fifth-place finish in the Champions Mile at Flemington last November, reinforcing his belief that the horse is on the right track.
“My job is to ride him on raceday, in trials and a couple of gallops and he’s never been an impressive worker,” Williams stated. “He has worked better before, but he’s never been what you would say is an impressive worker and he has had a little bit longer layoff this time. He seems like he’s going really well.”
Mr Brightside is aiming to join an elite group as the 12th multiple winner of the Memsie Stakes. He could also become only the second horse to win the race in non-consecutive years, a feat previously achieved by Sir Boom (1996/99).
Last year’s Memsie Stakes featured seven individual Group 1 winners, and this year’s renewal is no different, boasting a formidable field. Among the 17 entries are Treasurethe Moment, Jimmysstar, Autumn Boy, Beiwacht, and Cosmic Crusader, all Group 1 winners, alongside 12 other elite-level contenders.
Punters looking to get involved in the Memsie Stakes can explore the latest racing odds at leading Australian betting sites.
