Pinstriped upstages Mr Brighside and Pride Of Jenni in Group 1 Memsie Stakes upset at Caulfield

Once told he lacked the ability to train horses, Enver Jusufovic realised a childhood dream when he won his first Group 1 with stable star Pinstriped in the Memsie Stakes.

Pinstriped surges past Mr Brightside to win the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

The Memsie Stakes was one for the battlers.

Cranbourne trainer Enver Jusufovic, who started out selling Herald newspapers in Flemington, joined the Group 1-winning trainers’ ranks in the Memsie Stakes.

Jusufovic said a fellow Cranbourne horseman initially thought he didn’t have the ability to train horses but pure perseverance led him to success at the highest level with stable star Pinstriped.

Pinstriped’s owners mobbed the popular Jusufovic while waiting for jockey Ben Allen to bring their hero back to the mounting yard after the $14 chance surged past the $2.50 favourite Mr Brightside late to score by a neck.

Pinstriped wins the Memsie Stakes!

First ever Group 1 win for trainer Enver Jusufovic 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gySZOtKVn5

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 31, 2024

“(It’s a) Childhood dream,” Jusufovic said.

“(I’m a) Footscray boy, used to ride my bike to Flemington and sell Heralds at Flemington.

“I started at (Greg) Eurell’s years ago, he said I was hopeless, didn’t have the work ethic.

“It’s great to be here with (daughter) Addison and everyone who’s had faith in me.”

Pinstriped needed to overcome the two biggest names in Victorian racing to break through for a Group 1 win at his sixth attempt.

Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni topped the betting on the $750,000 race with the latter being a marked drifter, easing from $2.60 to $3.20.

Jockey Declan Bates took Pride Of Jenni to the front as expected but, after leading into a stiff breeze down the railway side of the track, weakened from the home turn to finish fifth.

Enver Jusufovic celebrates with jockey Ben Allen after winning his first Group 1. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Mr Brightside battled bravely but Pinstriped had the fitness advantage gained from his first-up second in the PB Lawrence Stakes, maintaining his effort to overpower the favourite late.

“It’s a true Group 1 when you’ve got Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, but of course they were first-up, we were second-up,” Jusufovic said.

“He pulled up so well first-up and he’s got a great second-up record so you’re not going to die wondering.

“This horse has promised, he’s got issues but he’s just done so well this time in and it’s just fantastic.”

Mr Brightside’s camp remained proud of the multiple Group 1 winner despite the gelding just failing to notch successive Memsie Stakes wins.

“We’re really proud of the horse. He lost no admirers today,” Will Hayes, who trains Mr Brightside in partnership with his brother Ben and JD, said.

“He’s ran a great race first-up and will only be better for the run.

“Full credit to Enver and Pinstriped, he was too good today but our horse ran well.”

Pinstriped, Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside could clash again in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 14.

Originally published as Pinstriped upstages Mr Brighside and Pride Of Jenni in Group 1 Memsie Stakes upset at Caulfield