Mile beckons for Mr Brightside

[Wandering Eyes]

Ben Hayes believes that the conditions are more in Mr Brightside’s (NZ) (Bullbars) favour this time around as he prepares to take on Via Sistina in Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

The pair has only met once before, in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick during the autumn, when Via Sistina finished second and Mr Brightside third in a race that they were both comprehensively beaten in by tearaway leader Pride Of Jenni.

“I think at a mile, it will be a great race,” said Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD.

“She had the sit on us the first time we met, we had to bring the field up to Pride Of Jenni and she just ran over the top of us late. That was over 2000m and she now meets us at, probably, our best trip.

“It will be a very interesting watch; I’m looking forward to racing her again.”

Mr Brightside is chasing his second-successive victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes and boasts impressive statistics both over 1600m and second-up, which he’ll be on Saturday.

The flagbearer for Lindsay Park will jump from barrier four and will be ridden by his regular jockey Craig Williams.

“He’s arguably one of the better milers in Australia, his record at a mile is fantastic,” Hayes said.

“I think with Prode Of Jenni in the race, it’s a going to be a nice, genuine tempo and he’ll have something to chase again.”

Hayes is pleased with how Mr Brightside has recovered from his first-up run in the Memsie Stakes, where he was brave in defeat behind Pinstriped.

“He really came through the Memsie in great order, probably the best we’ve had him pull up for a while now,” Hayes said.

“He’s improved in the coat; he’s tightened up that little bit more.

“He’ll look a lot different in the mounting yard on Saturday, he’s still got improvement to come coat-wise, but his fitness levels are good and he galloped great on Tuesday, so we can’t fault him.”

Mr Brightside is at $3.80 in Sportsbet’s market for the Makybe Diva Stakes.

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