Craig Williams knows the unforgettable ride with Mr Brightside is going to end at some point, but he is excited about embarking on a sixth Spring Carnival with the gelding.
The champion hoop will reunite with the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained nine-year-old in this Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
The 1400-metre weight-for-age contest is a race Williams and Mr Brightside combined to win in 2023, while they have also finished second the past two years.
Saturday will be Williams’ 45th race ride on the son of Bullbars, on whom he has won 18 times, including the Memsie, a hat-trick of Makybe Diva Stakes, two Futurity Stakes, a Doncaster Mile and an Orr Stakes at the highest level.
“I’ve been lucky to ride 90 Group 1 winners in my career, and I’ve ridden some phenomenal horses, but I’ve won more Group 1 races on him than any other horse.
“That just tells you what he means to me.
“The other part that makes it so special is that I was part of his development. I won his maiden on him and was part of his placement and his development to be that horse.
“He didn’t just step out and become a Group 1 horse.
“The (Hayes) boys have just managed him so well and I’m looking forward to him being back at the racetrack.”
Some suggested the end might be near after he was shaded by Café Millenium in a track gallop at Sandown last Saturday, but Williams and the Hayes brothers were happy with what they saw.
Similar concerns were raised ahead of last year’s Memsie Stakes following a seemingly plain final jumpout, but Mr Brightside rebounded to beat home all bar Treasurethe Moment in Victoria’s first Group 1 of the season before a third-straight Makybe Diva Stakes win.
Williams pointed to the fact that Mr Brightside has not raced since his fifth placing in the Champions Mile at Flemington last November to back his belief that he is on track.
“My job is to ride him on raceday, in trials and a couple of gallops and he’s never been an impressive worker,” Williams said.
“He has worked better before, but he’s never been what you would say is an impressive worker and he has had a little bit longer layoff this time.
“He seems like he’s going really well.”
Mr Brightside is striving to become the 12th multiple winner of the Memsie Stakes, but only the second dual winner in non-consecutive years, alongside Sir Boom (1996/99).
He took on seven individual Group 1 winners in last year’s Memsie Stakes and again has a star-studded list of rivals to contend with this year with Treasurethe Moment, Jimmysstar, Autumn Boy, Beiwacht and Cosmic Crusader among 12 elite-level winners in the 17 entries.
