Mr Brightside wins 3rd Makybe Diva

MELBOURNE - The evergreen champion Mr Brightside has dictated the Makybe Diva Stakes to win the Group 1 race for a third consecutive year at Flemington.

The 20-time winner was not only taking his remarkable Group 1 win haul to 10, but he also became the first male horse to win three Group 1 races in succession at Flemington with his all-the-way victory.

Only mares like Makybe Diva herself, and Black Caviar held such a record before.

Jumping straight to the front and controlling the A$750,000 (S$640,000) race under Craig Williams, Mr Brightside ($23) scored by 1½ lengths from Aeliana (Damian Lane). The favourite, Via Sistina, (James McDonald) was a further neck away third.

Ben Hayes said he and brothers Will and JD, and the Lindsay Park team, were thrilled with Mr Brightside's Makybe Diva three-peat.

He said the race could not have panned out better for the Bullbars eight-year-old, who resumed with a second to Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1,400m) at Caulfield on Aug 30.

"It was a 10-out-of-10 ride," said Hayes. "Tactically he got an easy time early and because he got an easy time, they couldn't catch him, a champion like him.

"To win three Makybe Diva's and make it 10 Group 1's, we're so lucky to have him."

Although he remains in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley on Oct 25 following first declarations last week, Hayes said the likely plan was to keep Mr Brightside at 1,600m.

"We have to talk about it as he's still in the noms," said Hayes. "It's still an option and I'll have to talk to my brothers, Will and JD, and do what we believe is the best result for him."

RACING AND SPORTS