Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will be out to overturn his narrow defeat in last year’s Cox Plate when he heads to The Valley for this year’s edition.
Champion jockey Craig Williams did something at ‘Breakfast With The Best’ at Moonee Valley that he rarely does, ride Mr Brightside in a track gallop.
Williams has been associated with Mr Brightside since the gelding’s third career start, riding him in 34 of his 38 starts and in 15 of his 17 victories.
The pair has combined in six Group 1 wins and will chase a seventh in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Victory on Saturday will cap a remarkable eight days for Williams who landed the $2 million Kosciuszko and the $20 million Everest at Randwick last Saturday and would love nothing more than to add a third Cox Plate to the trophy cabinet.
But he would also love to do it for Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes whose father David provided Williams with his first with Fields Of Omagh in 2006.
“Every jockey dreams of being associated with a horse, a stable, and that’s something for an individual that doesn’t come around very often,” Williams said of Mr Brightside.
“But if you’re lucky enough, and I am, with a few horses, there is no greater joy than seeing them develop and do well.
“That’s why I’ve been fortunate to be a part of Mr Brightside’s development and then being on this journey with his huge success, but I guess you don’t get one without the other.
“I’ve only ridden him in one piece of work, and that was on Tuesday as I usually only ride him in trials, jump-outs and races.
“They (the boys) have got a great handle on him, and I think my role is like a formula one driver.
“We get the opportunity to ride these beautiful horses, test them out and tell them how it’s feeling, how it’s going, then they train the horses with that information and sometimes we get results.”
Mr Brightside went close to capturing the ultimate prize last year, only to be denied by Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior.
It was a bitter pill for all involved to swallow, but Williams believes, especially after Tuesday’s workout at The Valley, this can be the gelding’s year.
“The horse is flying, and he’s even seasoned up again with another 12 months under his belt,” Williams said.
“He was quite bullish about himself, and his action was great, his attitude says he wants to get on with it and he might have a special affinity with this track too.”
Ben Hayes drew barrier two for Mr Brightside in Tuesday’s draw, the same gate he jumped from in last year’s Cox Plate.
Williams said he likes the draw, although some of his big race wins have come from wide draws, including Bella Nipotina in last week’s Everest.
“My wife says not to ever complain about barrier draws,” Williams said.
“I won from a wide one the other day, I’ve won the Melbourne from out wide and the Caulfield Cup from out wide also.
“But I always prefer inside as it feels it makes my job easier, but he’s got to do the running.”
Mr Brightside is one of those rare horses who is into his fourth year of racing and continues to develop and race at the highest grade.
Williams praised the Lindsay Park team for the way they have prepared and also handle Mr Brightside, racing him through the grades and not getting to the highest level too soon.
“He’s been a phenomenal horse for me, the stable and his connections,” Williams said.
“He’s been so well managed by the stable, so well developed by the stable, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity and I love being a part of the journey.”
