Saturday Summary: Mr Brightside back-to-back in Makybe Diva S.

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni battle it out in the Makybe Diva S.

The proof is in the pudding—never write off champions. Saturday's G1 Makybe Diva S. saw both Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) step up from their first-up efforts in the G1 Memsie S.

Both horses were partnered by their regular riders: Craig Williams on the Ben, Will, and JD Hayes-trained Mr Brightside, and Declan Bates aboard Ciaron Maher's Pride Of Jenni. As usual, Pride Of Jenni set a strong pace, putting the field under pressure down a long, rain-affected Flemington straight. However, only Mr Brightside stayed within reach.

In the final stretch, the two champions locked eyes as Mr Brightside surged to meet Pride Of Jenni. In the end, it was the son of Bullbars who emerged victorious, securing his second win in the G1 Makybe Diva S. Pride Of Jenni, though defeated, lost nothing in a brave effort, and this is unlikely to be the last time these two will face off.

Queensland raider Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) also improved on his Memsie performance, finishing third, while Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) was unplaced in her Flemington debut.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes told 7HorseRacing, “We were very confident in Mr Brightside today (Saturday). Back on a heavy track, and after how well he came through his first-up run, he’s been working brilliantly in the lead-up.

“He deserves it, and what a great ride by Craig (Williams). He's such a special horse—just amazing. I've said it a million times, but he just keeps performing and never lets us down.

“He’s definitely the most consistent horse in Australia.”

It was also a memorable Saturday for the New Zealand-based Phoenix Park, the boutique operation owned by Janine Dunlop, celebrated a stakes double at Flemington.

Earlier in the programme, the classy Bellatrix Star (Star Witness), a graduate of Phoenix Park’s 2023 New Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft, claimed victory in the Listed Cap D'antibes S.

Mr Brightside has long flown the flag for Phoenix Park. Purchased for NZ$22,000 by Phil Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) from the operation at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Sale, the son of Bullbars has now won 17 races, including two G1 Doncaster H. titles, the G1 CF Orr S., the G1 Futurity S., and the G1 Memsie S., along with his two G1 Makybe Diva S. triumphs.

Mr Brightside is also the winner of the All-Star Mile and has placed in the G1 Cox Plate, G1 King Charles III S., and G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

Sunshine In Paris goes bang!

The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Sunshine In Paris (Invader) defended her title in the G2 Sheraco S. at Rosehill on Saturday. In a hot field, Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), making her Australian debut for Bjorn Baker, set a furious tempo with Rachel King in the saddle. By the 200-metre mark, the mare was starting to feel her effort.

Coming with a run from the pack was Michael Freedman’s Mumbai Muse (Zoustar) and Sunshine In Paris, while the hot favourite Joliestar (Zoustar) couldn’t reproduce her electric effort from her first-up run in the G3 Show County Quality H.

Sunshine In Paris outmuscled Mumbai Muse, while Joliestar held third from Makarena (Snitzel) and Belclare fading to fifth.

Co-trainer Annabel Neasham told 7HorseRacing, “I knew she was never going to be pick of the yard today (Saturday). But to do that first-up, she’s probably not as wound up as I had her for the Sheraco S. 12 months ago, as we needed a slot (for The Everest), but we’ve got one this year.

“I’ve managed to go really slowly with her during this preparation, and she’s so effective when fresh. We felt we’d run her here and then go straight to The Everest in five weeks.

“So, that was a pretty good performance. I don’t think we’ll see Sunshine In Paris again before The Everest, I’d like to just go straight there. That was always the plan last year. She may have a trial in between as we’ve got some time up our sleeves.”

Sunshine In Paris won the G1 Surround S. as a 3-year-old filly, and won last year’s G2 Sheraco S., securing a spot in The Everest but was scratched in the lead-up due to injury.

The daughter of Invader also has placings in the G1 The Galaxy, the G2 Light Fingers S., and was fourth in the G1 All-Aged S. She is from the Zabeel (NZ) mare Zenaida (NZ), who is also the dam of the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. victress Macroura (Snitzel).

Sunshine In Paris was initially sold by the Blue Sky Premium Consignment to Champagne Bloodstock for $90,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

A year later, Sunshine In Paris returned to the venue as part of the Newgate Consignment, where James Harron Bloodstock paid $3.9 million for her. She is now raced by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds.

Invader stands at Aquis Farm in Queensland for a fee of $8800 (inc GST).

Encap delivers second stakes victory in the G2 Theo Marks

A full calendar year to the day since his last win, in the G3 Ming Dynasty H., Encap (Capitalist) stepped back up to the plate to win a high-quality edition of the G2 Theo Marks S. at Rosehill.

Trained by Gary Portelli, the chestnut son of Group 3 victress Enquare (Stratum) has not been without talent, running second by a head to Militarize (NZ) in last year’s G1 Golden Rose before a brave fifth behind Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) in the G1 Randwick Guineas.

Encap waited until well into the home straight to make his move, battling with blue-blooded entire Bases Loaded (Deep Field) until the dying strides of the race to win by a short neck. Boom Torque (Spirit Of Boom) led the rest of the pack with less than two lengths between first and sixth-placed Celestial Legend.

“It’s funny how some horses fire on certain days at certain times of year,” Gary Portelli said. “He bounced out of it really well, with a great ride by Jason (Collett) to get him in that midfield position and put him in the race.

“Jeez, he put some good horses to sort there and ran a very good time.”

Some very good horses, indeed; fourth past the post was G1 Epsom H. winner Rediener (Redoute’s Choice), with multiple stakes winner Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-placed New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) not far behind, to name but a few.

“The Golden Eagle is our race,” continued Portelli. “That’s what we’re aiming at, so what we do between now and then depends how he pulls up. Could be an Everest!”

“He’s got ability, and a lot of it,” said Jason Collett, who rode the gelding to second place in the G2 Hobartville S. behind Celestial Legend. “We got to turn the tables today.”

In fourteen starts, Encap has competed at stakes - or quality, in the case of the Tapp-Craig - level eleven times, for four placings and now two victories. A $200,000 purchase for his trainer at Inglis Australian Easter Yearling, he is the best performed foal of his dam, herself a daughter of gutsy 12-time winner and stakes victress Skewiff (Mookta). Enquare has produced a full brother to Encap, the unraced Prime Broker, and is expecting another to be born this month.

Gritty Grinzinger Belle forges a path through the wet to stakes victory

The Flemington track downgrade to a Heavy 9 wasn’t going to slow Grinzinger Belle’s (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) stride as she ploughed to a 4l victory in the G2 Let’s Elope S. on Saturday. Unleashing down the Flemington straight, Grinzinger Belle was uncatchable for six-time stakes winner See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet), with Listed winner Alsephina (Star Turn) boxing along well for third.

The Danny O’Brien trained mare posted her first victory since the G3 Vanity S. in February, the two wins separated by three strong runs in stakes company. A $32,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Salepurchase for owner John (JR) Wheeler from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, Grinzinger Belle is the first winner for Ripsomemore (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).

Wheeler, synonymous with the Grinzinger suffix, has a long association with Danny O’Brien, and was a managing owner during young sire Russian Camelot’s (Ire) racing career. Wheeler has supported the stallion from the start, sending several mares each year including Taqdees (Redoute’s Choice), three quarter sister to stakes winner Wee Nessy (Snitzel), who expects her third Russian Camelot foal this spring.

O’Brien also trained Grizinger Belle’s sire, and her first up performance gave him hopes for Group 1 glory later in the spring.

“She won the Vanity in the autumn first-up, and we thought she was in similar order today tackling a deeper field,” O’Brien said post-race. “Very classy mares in that race today. She always travelled well in the run but I didn’t think she’d open up and win like that.

“She’s a good Kiwi-bred (mare) by Shamexpress, who we trained and is close to our hearts. She seemed to really appreciate it (the wet conditions).”

Jockey Damian Lane was equally pleased in his post-race interview; “She was very good. She’s a good, fresh horse.

“She took good improvement from that (second jump-out) and she was cherry ripe for today.”

Arkansaw Kid bounces back

After a slightly disappointing second-place finish in the Listed Chautauqua S. at Moonee Valley last Saturday, Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle by claiming the G2 Bobbie Lewis S. at Flemington.

Trained by Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, the son of Harry Angel (Ire) kicked off his campaign with an impressive win in the Listed Regal Roller S. before his minor setback at Moonee Valley.

Ridden by Craig Newitt on Saturday, Arkansaw Kid showed great determination to hold off Skybird (Exosphere) and Buenos Noches (Supido).

A $190,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Bloodstock from Sledmere Stud's draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Arkansaw Kid has now won four races, including the Listed Inglis Banner and the Listed Gothic S. As a 2-year-old, he finished third in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and placed fourth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

Arkansaw Kid is the sixth foal out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Florabella. Harry Angel is standing at Darley, Kelvinside for a fee of $38,500 (inc GST).

King Cup bound

Irish import Point King (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) proved the superior stayer in the G3 Archer S. over the testing 2500 metres at Flemington on Saturday. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 6-year-old was a last-start winner at Moonee Valley in BM100 company with Jamie Kah in the saddle.

Kah again partnered Point King on Saturday and gave the son of Zoffany (Ire) a peach of a ride, as he held off a tough effort from Hit The Road Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}), who was placed in a hurdle last start.

The favoured Berkshire Breeze (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) finished third, ahead of Mostly Cloudy (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}).

Nick Williams, representing his father Lloyd Williams, told Racing.com, “It was a great win, Jamie (Kah) gave him a great ride. I just thought when Point King got to the front, he seemed to idle.

“I know there has often been talk of putting headgear on him, perhaps that’s an option down the track. He’s done a pretty good job here, though. He was stepping up from 2000 metres at Moonee Valley to the 2500 metres, so he’s done a great job.”

Williams added, “Point King is a horse we’ve thought a lot of. He’s by Zoffany, we actually bought three that year, a good friend of ours in the Northern Hemisphere talked us into it because he wasn’t normally a stallion we’d chase.

“Unfortunately, I sold one, and his name is Fawkner Park. But this is a horse we like, and he put four together overseas, so I think any horse that can win four in a row is a pretty talented horse.”

Point King is from the Galileo (Ire) mare Loved (Ire), who is a full sister to the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. winner Battle Of Marengo (Ire). Point King was purchased for £80,000 (AU$156,600) by Joseph O’Brien from the 2020 Goffs Ireland Orby Yearling Sale.

The son of Zoffany (Ire) has won five races, including the Listed Vinnie Roe S. at Leopardstown.