Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) joined an exclusive club of Karaka graduates with 10 or more Group One wins when he triumphed in the A$750,000 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Mr Brightside has 10 Group One victories among a career total of 20 wins from 46 starts. He has earned A$17.97m in prize-money.
The champion racehorse was bought for $22,000 by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock at the 2019 Karaka May Sale from Phoenix Park's draft, then was passed in with a $50,000 reserve at the 2019 Ready to Run Sale before being sold on gavelhouse.com. He has now earned more than 900 times his May Sale purchase price.
Mr Brightside is the fifth Karaka graduate to reach 10 Group One victories. That list is headed by Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) with 14, while Mr Brightside now shares second place with fellow 10-time Group One winners So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral), Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) and Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire). Mr Brightside’s victory on Saturday moved him one ahead of nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock).
Saturday’s win was the third Makybe Diva Stakes victory in a row for Mr Brightside, who beat Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) by a length and a half in 2023 and then edged out Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in a tight finish 12 months ago.
Mr Brightside was only the third favourite among a six-horse field on Saturday, but he delivered a reminder of his incredible class and toughness with a front-running masterclass.
Regular rider Craig Williams sent Mr Brightside straight to the lead and was able to dictate terms out in front. Mr Brightside upped the ante coming around the home turn, stealing a break on his high-class field of rivals.
The chasers gave their all down the straight trying to reel him in, but Mr Brightside was too far in front and never looked like slowing down. He went on to win by a length and a half from fellow Group One-winning Karaka graduate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio). Another 10-time Group One winner, Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock), took third place just ahead of Karaka graduate Antino (NZ) (Redwood).
“I’m very privileged to be a part of this horse, a part of his development, which gives me great pride,” Williams said.
“This horse, he just carries so many racing fans and people. He’s just really captivated people around Australia. He’s the best miler in Australia on his day, and still one of the best even when he’s not. He’s just a marvel – three Makybe Divas.
“I think, after my experience and what we do in Ukraine, it just makes me more grateful to be able to partner up with a horse like him, put on a show and have people come out and support our amazing industry.
“This is what I dreamed of as a kid and wrote stories about at school. This is what every rider in the jockeys’ room works hard for and continues to work hard for – to win Group Ones, and especially these feature races like the Makybe Diva Stakes.”
Mr Brightside is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
“For JD and Will and I, he’s the most special horse we’ve ever had,” Ben Hayes said. “We’re just the front men. He means a lot to everyone and the whole team.
“He’s a 10-time Group One winner and he’s placed in 12 of them as well and won multiple Group Twos. He’s an absolute champion – no one can deny that now.
“It turned out beautifully today. 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. He’s an amazing horse and we’re so lucky to have him.
“We thought he had gone the right way since his second in the Memsie Stakes (1400m). 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.”
The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 10am (NZT) on Wednesday 12 & Thursday 13 November, with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October.
| Vendor | Phoenix Park |
| Purchaser | Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (Waikato) |
| Breeding | Bullbars – Lilahjay |
| Sale | Lot 159, 2019 Karaka May Sale, $22,000
Lot 39, 2019 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res $50,000) |
| Breeder | R I & Est Late M A G Johnson |
| Owner | Lindsay Park Bloodstock, Green Shorts Racing , Mr K J Paisley, Mrs C A Paisley, Mr B P Carson, Mr M Andreadis, Mr J Molinaro, Ms A Molinaro, Mr D I Hollyman, Mr S C Horn, Mr R M Jarvis, Mr G W Kerr, Mr D S Lee, Mr R J White, Mr D P Cavallo, The Fighting Cowboys, Mr P Presti, Mr L Presti, Ms J A Evans, Hunter Graeber Racing |
