Mr Brightside has become the first male horse to win three successive Group 1’s at Flemington with his all-the-way victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
The Lindsay Park-trained gelding notched his third win in the weight-for-age contest over 1600m on Saturday and in the process joins four mares who each won three Group 1 races back-to-back.
Makybe Diva won three Melbourne Cups during the 2000’s with Black Caviar claiming three Lightning Stakes while Tranquil Star and Wakeful each won three Mackinnon Stakes earlier last century before Group 1 racing was recognised in the late 1970’s.
Mr Brightside, the mainstay of the Ben, Will and J D Hayes Lindsay Park stable, also registered his tenth Group 1 victory with Saturday’s success.
Jumping straight to the front and controlling the race under Craig Williams, Mr Brightside ($5) scored by 1-½ lengths from Aeliana ($5) with the $1.80 favourite Via Sistina a further neck away third.
Ben Hayes said he and his brothers, along with the entire Lindsay Park team, were thrilled with Mr Brightside’s effort in becoming a three-time Makybe Diva winner.
He said the race could not have panned out better for the eight-year-old who resumed in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes finishing second at Caulfield on August 30.
“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.
“To win three Makybe Diva’s and make it 10 Group 1’s, he’s an amazing horse and we’re so lucky to have him.”
Mr Brightside has been a constant for the Hayes brothers having joined their team in 2021, shortly after their father David departed for a second stint in Hong Kong.
Hayes said Mr Brightside was technically an 11-time Group 1 winner, courtesy of his All-Star Mile success in 2023, while he also has 12 Group 1 placings and multiple Group 2 victories to his credit.
The training trio had been confident Mr Brightside was in the right form to tackle Saturday’s race after his first-up run.
“He paraded beautifully, it was typical Mr B,” Hayes said.
“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.”
Although he remains in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 following first declarations last week, Hayes said the likely plan is to keep Mr Brightside at 1600m.
“He’s so good over a mile. His mile record is amazing,” Hayes said.
“We have to talk about it as he’s still in the noms. It’s still an option and I’ll have to talk to my brothers, Will and J D, and do what we believe is the best result for him.
“The Feehan, we’ll definitely consider it. That’s probably the next logical race, if not he might have a trial and go to the King Charles III (in Sydney).”
