Craig Williams declares Mr Brightside the one to beat in Cantala Stakes

Craig Williams is excited to be riding Mr Brightside, who is striving for a seventh straight win, in the Cantala Stakes.

Craig Williams says Seymour Cup winner Mr Brightside deserves to be favourite for the Cantala Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos

Champion jockey Craig Williams wants to reward the patience of brothers Ben and JD Hayes with victory on Mr Brightside in Saturday’s $2m Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Williams has declared Mr Brightside the one to beat on Saturday.

Mr Brightside has put the newest Lindsay Park partnership on the map, climbing through the grades from a Geelong maiden to Seymour Cup in six consecutive wins to earn a shot at a Group 1 on Derby Day.

“They will all have to beat him on his current form,” Williams said.

Mr Brightside opened $4.40 with TAB to win the Cantala.

Progressive mare Chaillot ($8) and Sydney visitors Aramayo ($9) and Riodini ($9) are the only other runners in single figures.

While Mr Brightside, a Lindsay Park purchase from New Zealand after one start at Matamata, has taken all before him thus far, Williams credited the brothers Hayes for managing the “gifted” horse perfectly.

“You just don’t do that often enough (patient progression through the grades) and I can feel the benefit from this horse by going there (winnable races), having experiences and having wins,” Williams said.

“Luckily for me, I have been able to see his progression and the way this horse is coming on with confidence and experience I just can’t wait for the race Saturday.

Cantala Stakes favourite Mr Brightside has won his last six races. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

“He’s drawn favourably in gate six, he’s a versatile horse that has a really good acceleration, he can sustain a run and he’s effective on all surfaces, he makes his own luck in any position I want to ride him in.

“With 52kg on his back he’s even dropping 2kg from his dominant performance the other day.

“He just keeps going to another level, on his current form they have to beat him.”

Williams has ridden 19 times for the new Lindsay Park partnership for eight wins and seven minor prizes.

Williams, who took Ben and JD to a Justin Timberlake concert after winning the 2007 Victoria Derby on Kibbutz, for David Hayes, praised the brothers’ success at Lindsay Park since their father moved back to dominate Hong Kong.

“I must admit, they’ve had winners or placings on the major days, for the small number of horses they have, they’re obviously doing a wonderful job, so it’s a credit to them,” Williams said.

Williams only remembered he took the Hayes’ to see Timberlake after it was brought up in a story recently.

“I remember saying ‘don’t jump up there and carry on’, by three quarters of the way through the night they were holding me back in the chair because ‘JT’ was amazing,” Williams laughed.

Williams has an impressive book of rides on Derby Day, as expected, including leading Group 1 chances in Tofane (Empire Rose), Gundec (Victoria Derby) and In The Congo (Coolmore).

Originally published as Craig Williams declares Mr Brightside the one to beat in Cantala Stakes