Makybe Diva Stakes (Group 1)

MR Brightside went back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes after prevailing in a thrilling duel with Pride Of Jenni over Flemington’s 1,600 metres.

Whereas two weeks earlier, Pride Of Jenni was not ready for the rigours of her front-running style in the Memsie Stakes, on Saturday she was ‘on’.

Declan Bates rated the Pride Of Dubai mare perfectly to lead through the turn before opening a gap of four-lengths to the Redwood gelding Antino. Mr Brightside had a target for both.

Having picked off Antino with 250 metres to run, a two-length margin still remained. Tenaciously the Bullbars gelding under Craig Williams fought on, finally levelling up to Pride Of Jenni with 50 metres to go. The final eight strides saw Mr Brightside edge away and win by a half-length as Antino kept on for third.

“That was thrilling. What a spectacle,” said co-trainer J.D. Hayes. “Pride Of Jenni was so brave out in front as she is, and our bloke had to knuckle down to the task.

“He’s a model of consistency and we’re so glad to have him. He’s unbelievable. He truly is unique. We don’t take it lightly to have a horse like him in the stable. To come back now as an older horse and perform like that is huge. He’s like a fine wine.”

Having now banked A$14 million from 37 starts, having sold at the Karaka May Sale for NZ$22,000 as a yearling, Mr Brightside is now a seven-time Group 1 winner.

“I’ve said it a million times, but he just keeps performing and never lets us down. And it’s so important. He’s definitely the most consistent horse in Australia,” added Hayes.

THE 2022 Vinnie Roe Stakes winner Point King has won his way into the Melbourne Cup after landing Saturday’s Archer Stakes at Flemington.

The Group 3 over 2,500 metres carried the bonus of a ballot-free entry to the winner, making it the fourth race this year with such status following the Ebor Handicap at York (Magical Zoe), the Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga (The Grey Wizard) and the Andrew Ramsden at Flemington (The Map).

The Irish-bred gelding, who began his career with Joseph O’Brien, dug in well under Jamie Kah to win by a neck from Hit The Road Jack and the Irish-bred race favourite Berkshire Breeze.

“It is a solid 2,500-metres at Flemington and to do that today, in a genuinely run race in the (heavy) conditions, I thought he did a good job,” said Nick Williams.

“I’d imagine he would need another run before the Cup. We’ll let Dad (Lloyd) and Anthony and Sam (Freedman) work that out. He’s a horse we’ve thought a lot of. We bought him as a yearling.

“He’s by Zoffany. That year we bought three Zoffanys. A good friend of mine in the northern hemisphere talked us into it, as we wouldn’t normally buy Zoffanys. I sold one of them and his name is Fawkner Park.”

Trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, Fawkner Park has won six from 12 since being imported, including the A$1.33 million Q22 at Eagle Farm in June. Point King was subsequently allocated 50.5 kgs for the Melbourne Cup.

MELBOURNE Cup weights were released on Tuesday with last year’s Cups Double winner Without A Fight top-weight at 58.5 kgs.

Doubt exists though as to whether the Teofilo gelding will run. Next on weight is Via Sistina at 56 kgs, ahead of Vauban on 55.5 kgs, a half above his 2023 weight. The Willie Mullins runner is presently equal favourite on local markets with the 2024 Queensland Derby winner Warmonger.

Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger quinella of Jan Brueghel and Illinois have been allocated 54 kgs and 53kg respectively, whilst Dermot Weld’s Harbour Wind also has 53 kgs.

“He’s a dual listed winner and a last-start second in the Group 3 Prix Gladiateur at Longchamp,” said Chief Handicapper David Hegan who said he was most concerned about Harbour Wind.

“I suspect he’s got a lot more to offer and he has been rated right up to his maximum with no allowance for his form in those listed and Group 3 races and I suspect there is improvement to come from him.”

Melbourne Cup weights

Irish entries

Vauban (Fr), 55.5kg Willie Mullins

Point Lonsdale (Ire), 55.5kg Aidan O’Brien

Jan Brueghel (Ire), 54kg Aidan O’Brien

Illinois (Ire), 53kg Aidan O’Brien

Harbour Wind (Ire), 53kg Dermot K Weld

Absurde (Fr), 52.5kg Willie Mullins

Magical Zoe (Ire), 52.5kg Henry de Bromhead

Grosvenor Square (Ire), 52kg Aidan O’Brien

The Equator (Ire), 50kg Aidan O’Brien

The Euphrates (GB), 50.5kg Aidan O’Brien

Kinesiology (GB), 50kg Jessica Harrington

Hipop De Loire (Fr), 50kg Willie Mullins

Other overseas entries

Warp Speed (Jpn), 54.5kg Noboru Takagi

Arrest (Ire), 53.5kg John & Thady Gosden

Shonan Bashitto (Jpn), 53kg Naosuke Sugai

Delius (GB), 52.5kg Jean-Claude Rouget

Night Sparkle (Ire), 51kg Andrew Balding

Relentless Voyager (GB), 51.5kg Andrew Balding (Transferred to Ciaron Maher)

Onesmoothoperator (USA), 50kg Brian Ellison

Sea King (GB), 50kg Harry Eustace

THE James Cummings-trained Street Boss colt Traffic Warden looks primed for a huge run in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1,400 metres on September 28th) following Saturday’s win in the Group 2 Run To The Rose over 1,200 metres Rosehill.

With five ahead of him rounding the bend, Traffic Warden timed his run beautifully to overwhelm the I Am Invincible colt Anode and the Justify colt Storm Boy who filled the placings.

Traffic Warden is now second favourite for the Golden Rose behind his stablemate Broadsiding with Storm Boy the third favourite.

“Traffic Warden is asserting himself now, and he is a very serious colt for the spring,” said Cummings. “Admittedly, not everything went ideal for other horses in the race, but he savaged the line. You didn’t see the best of him last prep.

“I think he’s a better horse now and he will certainly be taking some beating in the Golden Rose. l then have to make a decision. Do you pull him back for an Everest or do you push on to a (Caulfield) Guineas?”