Mr Brightside faces tactical battle to maintain winning streak in Makybe Diva Stakes
Ben Hayes says the Makybe Diva Stakes could turn into a “battle of tactics” between Craig Williams and Damien Oliver as Mr Brightside chases a third win of the campaign.
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A small field will provide a great test of how far Mr Brightside has improved in Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes.
Mr Brightside has won his last four starts, including the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield at his last run, but those wins have been in fields of 14 runners or more.
Mr Brightside will return to a tactical affair in the Makybe Diva Stakes with seven runners engaged to race for $750,000 in prizemoney.
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Mr Brightside has been beaten in his last three Group 1 races of less than 10 runners with Alligator Blood winning two of those contests in last year’s Caulfield Stakes and the Futurity Stakes in February.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes expected another intriguing contest with Alligator Blood in the Makybe Diva Stakes but warned Mr Brightside would race much closer to the pace at Flemington.
“When we had small fields and he was racing last time in, we went back in those small fields and they were sit and sprint races,” Hayes, who trains Mr Brightside with his brothers Ben and JD, said.
“When you have good horses like Alligator Blood and I’m Thunderstruck, they’re hard to chase down.
“When they get an easy time, they have a good turn of foot.
“The way he’s racing now and the way he’s jumping out of the gates, he’ll be able to be up on the pace and take away that disadvantage.”
Hayes noted punters will be treated to a battle of wills between two established stars of the saddle with Mr Brightside’s jockey Craig Williams to be up against retiring master Damien Oliver on Alligator Blood.
“Ollie knows what he’s doing, he’s the GOAT for a reason, and Craig is not far behind him,” Hayes said.
“They’re both great riders, and in those small fields, that’s what makes it interesting, the battle of tactics.
“That’s what brings people to racing and hopefully these two can have a lot more battles.”
But Hayes said Mr Brightside had the acceleration to outsprint Alligator Blood and Memsie Stakes runner-up Princess Grace in the charge down the Flemington straight.
“I think he’s got a very good turn of foot and he’s always had that,” Hayes said.
“He’s very good on fast tempos, sit and sprint races and he’s always run the fastest last 600m of the meeting.
“He’s got a great turn of foot and that’s his asset.”
TAB has Mr Brightside as the early $1.90 favourite while Alligator Blood and Princess Grace are at $4 and $4.60 respectively.
Originally published as Mr Brightside faces tactical battle to maintain winning streak in Makybe Diva Stakes
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