Jockey Craig Williams chases 2024 Champions Day double at Flemington aboard Bella Nipotina and Mr Brightside

He’s won more than $25 million in prizemoney for Bella Nipotina and Mr Brightside’s lucky owners, so it’s no wonder Craig Williams considers them part of the family. But there’s more in store on Champions Day at Flemington.

Craig Williams has declared Mr Brightside in career best shape for the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington.

Mr Brightside has finished fourth (2021), third (2022) and second (2023) respectively in the 1600m blockbuster the past three years.

A significant gear change, blinkers on for the first time, has also been made for Saturday.

“I’d say this is the best he’s been coming into the Champions Day,” Williams said.

“I feel we’ve still got more in the tank, no doubt, and I’m always guided by the Hayes boys and if they bring him here, well then it’s good enough for me.”

• 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!

Mr Brightside is a $5.50 second favourite with Ladbrokes for the Champions Mile behind Pride Of Jenni ($5).

“Everyone deserves a big race but at this level but you don’t get it because you deserve it, he gets it because he’s faster, tougher and angrier,” Williams said.

“Having a bit of give in the track seems to be to his liking at the moment, subject to how the track is prepared, presented and the weather on the day. He’s still a phenomenal horse and he leaves nothing out there.

“I just love to get to get to ride him in these big races.”

• EXPERT TIPS: Champions Day Group 1s at Flemington plus Five Diamonds at Rosehill

Williams has a shot at a prized double with Bella Nipotina favourite in the $3m Champions Sprint – 40 minutes before Mr Brightside.

It will be only the fourth time Mr Brightside and Bella Nipotina have appeared on the same race card — and the third time with Williams aboard both in respective assignments.

Williams has forged a remarkable record on the pin-up sprint and middle distance stars, with 22 wins from 56 starts and $25.7m of a combined $35.1m prizemoney for the lucky horses’ owners.

Jockeys are entitled to a minimum five per cent of any prizemoney earned.

The Everest winner Bella Nipotina ($20.54m) needs only a top three finish on Saturday to become the second highest Australian racehorse prizemoney earner ever behind only Winx ($26.4m).

Mr Brightside ($14.6m) is currently seventh on the rich list but could climb as high as fourth with the $1.8m Champions Mile first prize.

Bella Nipotina is a $4.20 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Champions Sprint.

• Clinton Payne’s Champions Mile runner-by-runner analysis plus tips

The evergreen seven-year-old placed third, ninth and fifth in the race previously but her form the past six months has been exemplary with four wins, including three the highest level.

“It’s great for people that come to Champions Day to get to see some great horses and luckily I’ve got two of them,” Williams said.

“She’s won the biggest sprint race in the world being, The Everest, she’s the best sprinter in the world on her day and she’s really exciting.

“Mr Brightside well, he’s great. He ran into an unusually quick, tough (Cox Plate) year and still ran really well, ran fourth, he’s a marvellous horse and one of the best in Australia.

“They’re two perfect examples of developing horses being really well-managed and they’re phenomenal … we don’t talk about them being the fastest anymore, we talk about them being at that level and de-accelerating slower than the rest.”

• Clinton Payne’s Champions Sprint runner-by-runner analysis plus tips

Bella Nipotina won the $3m Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) in Sydney last Saturday under a hold from Williams.

“When they’re that good and they’re good horses you’re against, regardless of how easily they win you’re still competing,” Williams said.

“They still put a lot out there and they’ve raced, it shouldn’t be understated, Ciaron Maher and his stable have done an amazing job with her and my job on Saturday is to ride her.

“I just love riding her, like Brightside, I’ve actually got an extra two children now.”

Originally published as Jockey Craig Williams chases 2024 Champions Day double at Flemington aboard Bella Nipotina and Mr Brightside