Australia: Mr Brightside tops Via Sistina, 3-peats in Makybe Diva
Mr Brightside became the first male horse to win three successive Group 1 races at Flemington with his all-the-way victory Saturday to upset odds-on favorite Via Sistina in the US$498,000 Makybe Diva Stakes in Australia.
The Lindsay Park-based gelding notched his third win in the one-mile, weight-for-age contest and in the process joined four mares who each won three consecutive Group 1 races.
Makybe Diva won three Melbourne Cups between 2003 and 2005. Black Caviar claimed three Lightning Stakes from 2011 to 2013. Tranquil Star and Wakeful each won three Mackinnon Stakes in the first half of the 20th century before Group 1 racing was recognized in the late ’70s.
Mr Brightside, the mainstay of the Lindsay Park stable run by Ben, Will and J.D. Hayes, also registered his 10th Group 1 victory with Saturday's success.
Jumping straight to the front and controlling the race under jockey Craig Williams, Mr Brightside (4-1) scored by 1 1/2 lengths over Aeliana (4-1). Via Sistina (4-5), who brought four consecutive Group 1 triumphs in to Saturday’s race, was a farther neck back in third. Aeliana and Via Sistina are trained by Chris Waller.
The winning time was 1:38.75 without a run-up for the 1,600 meters, 10 yards less than a mile. The left-turning turf course was rated good.
Ben Hayes said the race could not have panned out better for the 8-year-old who began his 2025-26 campaign by finishing second Aug. 30 in the Memsie (G1) at Caulfield.
“It was a 10-out-of-10 ride,” he 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 Divas and make it 10 Group 1s, 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.
Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside could be considered an 11-time Group 1 winner if his All-Star Mile success in 2023 were counted. The gelding also has 12 Group 1 placings and three 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 productive first start off a four-month break.
“He paraded beautifully. It was typical Mr B,” Ben 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 mix for the 1 1/4-mile Cox Plate (G1) at Moonee Valley on Oct. 25 after nominations last week, Ben Hayes said the likely plan is to keep Mr Brightside at 1,600 meters.
“He’s so good over a mile. His mile record is amazing,” he 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.”
Ben Hayes said the one-mile Feehan (G2) at Moonee Valley on Sept. 26 and the King Charles III (G1) on Oct. 18 at Randwick were possibilities.
“The Feehan, we’ll definitely consider it,” he said. “That’s probably the next logical race. If not he might have a trial and go to the King Charles III.”