Champion jockey Craig Williams relying on Mr Brightside to be tough again in Group 1 All-Star Mile

Craig Williams knows Mr Brightside will be up for the fight no matter whatever is thrown at him in Saturday’s Group 1 All-Star Mile.

Champion jockey Craig Williams will again rely on tough and tenacious Mr Brightside to overcome another wide barrier on Saturday in the All-Star Mile at Flemington.

The battle-hardened nine-time Group 1 and All-Star Mile champion Mr Brightside has dug in the past two starts, second in the CF Orr Stakes before a narrow victory in the Futurity Stakes.

Mr Brightside raced outside the leader in both Group 1 features – jumped from barriers eight and 10 respectively – and maintained the rage late under pressure.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

All-Star Mile second favourite Another Wil collared Mr Brightside in the CF Orr while the third elect Tom Kitten got within a head in the Futurity Stakes.

“Ciaron’s (Maher) horse (Another Wil) beat us on the day but if you swap barriers you might swap results,” Williams said.

“I thought there was a lot more merit to the margin that he won by, the other day.”

Mr Brightside, a $2.40 favourite to win his second All-Star Mile in four years, has gate five of seven on Saturday.

With no obvious leader in the field, Lindsay Park drawcard Mr Brightside, fourth in 2022 and second behind Pride Of Jenni last year, could again settle on speed.

• All-Star Mile runner-by-runner form analysis and tips

Williams, who missed the 2023 All-Star Mile success through injury, said “tough” runs from wide draws paled in comparison to clashes past with Pride Of Jenni.

“When he had to race against Jenni, that’s tough,” Williams said.

“When he had to do that and back-up two weeks later that was tough.

“You look at the clock and you know the challenges he had and still he gets through that carnival and he wins and comes back.

“He’s just an amazing horse and I think that showed the quality of the horse’s determination, his ability and his will to win.

“He loves being at the races and competing, lucky enough for me to ride him, but for racing fans he’s phenomenal.”

Mr Brightside and Craig Williams win the Group 1 Futurity Stakes. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Mr Brightside has won 19 of 42 career starts and $17m prizemoney.

Williams has combined with Mr Brightside on 38 occasions for 17 wins.

“He’s come through the (Futurity) really well according to the Hayes boys and I’m really looking forward to getting back on him,” Williams said.

The small but “quality” seven-horse field on Saturday should ensure great and tactical contest.

“Personally, I always rather have quality than quantity,” Williams said.

“We don’t have Via Sistina, Fangirl, Ceolwulf, we’ve got some amazing racehorses at the moment, we haven’t got them all there but you can’t always get them all there.

“In Group 1 races there’s no hiding spots, look at his two runs this preparation, he’s beaten more horses inside him than outside him and again hope it happens on Saturday.

“We rely on him to be tough and tenacious.”

• Brad Waters’ tips, analysis for Flemington on Saturday

Tom Kitten purring for autumn

Godolphin trainer James Cummings says All-Star Mile challenger Tom Kitten could be “in for the prep for his life” after a brilliant fresh effort behind champion Mr Brightside.

Tom Kitten charged late in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) to get within a head of Mr Brightside, the All-Star Mile favourite.

“He pulled up outstandingly from that run in the Futurity,” Cummings said.

“His gallop on the course proper this week was scintillating.

“But he’s going to need an improvement from his effort first-up in the Futurity to beat the types of horses in the All-Star Mile.”

Tom Kitten is $5 for the All-Star Mile behind Mr Brightside ($2.40) and Another Wil ($2.80).

“Tom Kitten could be in for the prep of his life this campaign,” Cummings said.

“These first two runs in Melbourne might just be the runs he needs to get him into the picture against the better horses around the country.”

The 2023 Group 1 Spring Champion winner has raced consistently since but managed one other win from the past 11 starts.

Tom Kitten placed in both the Group 1 Epsom and rich Golden Eagle last year.

“He’s been a bit of a project to get back to this level since he was so impressive in the Spring Champion Stakes as a three-year-old,” Cummings said.

“Having got back to those big performances against Ceolwulf last preparation, and not to mention the impressive form from that Golden Eagle.

“We have to be quietly confident that he can take another step up against Mr Brightside and Another Wil this weekend.”

Originally published as Champion jockey Craig Williams relying on Mr Brightside to be tough again in Group 1 All-Star Mile