Brett Prebble assesses the Makybe Diva Stakes and predicts a Pride Of Jenni or Mr Brightside win

Retired jockey Brett Prebble says rivals won’t catch Pride Of Jenni if she’s back to her best in the Makybe Diva Stakes, but there’s one horse best placed to beat her if she doesn’t fire again.

Jockeys in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday at Flemington, other than Pride Of Jenni’s rider Declan Bates, face a dilemma.

How much of a lead to afford Pride Of Jenni without undoing their own race?

Happily retired champion jockey Brett Prebble has Mr Brightside best placed to combat Pride Of Jenni within a relative comfort zone.

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“He’ll win one of them (Group 1s) this prep, he’ll win one of the big ones,” Prebble said.

“Which one it is, we’ll see by the end of the spring, I just think he’s such a reliable horse and if I had my choice I’d be happy to ride him.”

Via Sistina is a $2.40 favourite with TAB Mr Brightside ($3.10) and Pride Of Jenni ($6.50).

Memsie Stakes winner Pinstriped ($8.50), Antino ($12) and Atishu ($15) round out the top six from resuming stayers Warmonger ($34) and Circle Of Fire ($61).

Pride of Jenni (left) fading behind Pinstripped and Mr Brightside in the Memsie Stakes last start. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

If allowed to build an early lead, Pride Of Jenni could be impossible to run down.

She led by more than 30 lengths in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes last campaign and ended up winning by 6½ in breathtaking style.

Pride Of Jenni tried to dictate the Group 1 Memsie Stakes first-up at Caulfield two weeks ago, led by no more than two lengths in transit, but faded in the straight to run fifth.

Prebble, who has won the 1600m Group 1 twice aboard Native Jazz (2002) and Incentivise (2022), conceded the race hinged on Pride Of Jenni’s performance.

“If she fires you won’t catch her,” Melbourne Cup-winner Prebble said.

“If she doesn’t fire, well then you’re all in it for the race.”

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Prebble, who designs and manufactures racing equipment under his Persuader branding, said Pride Of Jenni’s style limited the options available to rival jockeys.

“There’s not many in there where you can change your pattern of racing,” Prebble said.

“Mr Brightside will lay up (second or third in running) and have as soft a run as he can, without carting the field up, that’s how I envisage him being ridden.

“Pinstriped is going to be fourth or fifth, if he’s lucky, Antino will probably miss the kick like it always does and flash home, look at me, look at me, sort of thing.

“Waller’s horses, both of them (Via Sistina and Atishu), will just find their feet early, no one can really change the race dimensions at all.”

Originally published as Brett Prebble assesses the Makybe Diva Stakes and predicts a Pride Of Jenni or Mr Brightside win