‘He’s a warrior’: Champion jockey Craig Williams insists Mr Brightside up for Queen Elizabeth fight
Champion jockey Craig Williams has faith in Mr Brightside can rebound in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.
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Mr Brightside has conditions to rebound in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
Champion jockey Craig Williams said the six-time Group 1 “warrior” would “appreciate” a wet track on Saturday in the $5 million blockbuster.
Top class imported mare Via Sistina, a Group 1 Ranvet Stakes winner in Sydney, dominates the TAB market as $2.20 favourite from Pride Of Jenni at $4.
Cascadian, the last-start Australian Cup winner, is rated an $8.50 chance, with Mr Brightside at $10.
• Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-by-runner guide
“He’s competing at the elite level, every time he goes out,” Williams said.
“There’s never any hiding spots in the races he’s run in, his last two preparations and he’s a warrior.
“It’s disappointing we’re not winning, but it just shows you at the elite level, we need a few more things to go our way.”
Mr Brightside has raced exclusively on dry ground the past 12 months for five wins, four at the highest level, and runner-up four times, including a Cox Plate by the barest margin.
He boasts seven wins from 11 starts on wet tracks, including two Doncaster Miles at Randwick.
• Enduring champs set for final showdown in Queen Elizabeth
“I’m not going to speculate about a track, all I know is the facts, he’s running on Saturday, he goes there in good order and it is a rain-affected track, with give in the track,” Williams said.
“He’s very effective on those types of surfaces, he’s effective on every surface but he definitely would appreciate getting his toe in, I would say compared to how he felt the other day.”
Mr Brightside stalked Pride Of Jenni last start in the Australian Cup but could not sustain the “brutal” pace and tired into fifth, beaten 4¾ lengths, behind Cascadian, who nailed the leader on the post.
The start prior in the All-Star Mile, runner-up Mr Brightside went back from a wide draw and could not reel in Pride Of Jenni.
The All-Star ride divided opinion, but going forward from a kind draw in the Australian Cup backfired.
“It just shows when Jenni is in the races and her run style, whatever distance, it’s a real brutally run race,” Williams said.
“The horses that come to the forefront (Cascadian last start), apart from her, I guess must thank us for riding as close to the speed and endure that, but then we weren’t there at the end of the race.
“I know the boys (trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes) are happy with the way the horse is going into the race.”
Williams would not be drawn on tactics from barrier 10 on Saturday.
“The horse usually tells me where he wants to run in a race,” Williams said.
“I never boss him around too much in a race, I’ve got such a great understanding of him, I’ve been part of his development to where here is now.
“We have our plans and I have my ideas, but I don’t bully the horse around too much and he tells me where he wants to be, it’s usually a good formula.”
Originally published as ‘He’s a warrior’: Champion jockey Craig Williams insists Mr Brightside up for Queen Elizabeth fight
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