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Via Sistina may be our current queen of the turf but Lindsay Park stalwart Mr Brightside showed he was the king with a historic third straight win in the 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday beating two top Waller mares in an unbelievable all-the-way performance.
Reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year Via Sistina went around as the short favourite at Flemington in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) but could only manage to run third as eight-year-old Mr Brightside stormed home to collect an unprecedented three-peat in the mile showdown.
Only three horses have won multiple editions of the race with Chicquita (1950-51), Sailor’s Guide (1956-57), and Mr Brightside (2023-25) who was the first to do so as a mile race and a Group 1 race.
“To win three Makybe Divas, which no horse has ever done, and 10 Group 1s; he’s just an amazing horse and we’re so lucky to have him,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racing Victoria.
“His record is unbelievable. He’s an absolute champion, no-one can deny that now and maybe people will start respecting him and tipping him.”
In a true test of a champion, the veteran son of Bullbars proved he’s a modern great, taking up running under regular rider Craig Williams in what was a tactical affair.
Landing up front, Williams gave his mount a perfectly timed ride running his rivals ragged.
Mr Brightside ($5) kicked strongly in the run to the line, surviving the challenge of Waller’s gun four-year-old Aeliana ($5), while race favourite and Ladbrokes Cox Plate heroine Via Sistina ($1.80F) had to settle for third.
In a huge performance, Mr B had 1.5 lengths to spare on the line enjoying his first turf triumph since February’s Futurity Stakes.
“It was a 10-out-of-10 ride,” Hayes said.
“Tactically he got an easy time early and because he got an easy time, they couldn’t catch him.”
Having amassed just shy of $18 million in total prize money, the now 10-time Group 1 hero improved sharply second-up off his lead-up second when 2.5 lengths off Treasurethe Moment in the Memsie Stakes fresh.
A bout of colic ruled Treasurethe Moment out of the Makybe Diva rematch paving the way for Mr Brightside to dominate proceedings and secure his spot in the history books.
“I’m so proud of him and for him to come back and win, to show how good he is, makes us so proud,” Hayes said.
“For JD and Will and I, he’s the most special horse we’ve ever had. We’re just the front men, but Ross (track rider), Will (strapper), he means a lot to everyone and the whole team.”
Next-up options for Mr Brightside include a trip to The Valley for the Group 2 $500,000 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Manikato Stakes Night, Friday September 26, or a hit-out to keep him fresh for a shot at Sydney’s Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 18.
“We thought he had gone the right way. He paraded beautifully, it was typical Mr B. His coat has come on, but the good thing is, he’s got improvement to come and we’re going to have fun placing him at his next couple of starts,” Hayes said.
As for a fourth attempt at the Australasian weight-for-age championship with the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) offering $6 million for the first time at Moonee Valley on October 25, Hayes said it was still on the cards.
“He’s so good over a mile. His mile record is amazing. We have to talk about as he’s still in the noms,” he said.
“It’s still an option and I’ll have to talk to my brothers, Will and J D, and do what we believe is the best result for him.”
Mr Brightside’s Cox Plate performances to date have been a 7th to Anamoe in 2022, 2nd to Romantic Warrior in 2023 and a distant fourth over 10 lengths beaten by Via Sistina in 2024.
Via Sistina remains the $2.20 all-in favourite in Cox Plate betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au.
Her progressive stablemate Aeliana, a five-length ATC Derby winner from the autumn who also ran second in the Winx Stakes before her solid effort in the Makybe Diva, is the $9 second elect.
Mr Brightside is out to $15.
Far from being disappointed in the Makybe Diva Stakes result, Waller was enthusiastic with the performances of his two placegetters.
“They went awesome. Simple as that. They couldn’t have run any better,” he said.
“Mr Brightside is a great horse, Craig took the initiative leading, I didn’t expect my two to lead.
“I thought they were ridden brilliantly, and they put on a bloody good show and that’s what people want to see.
“We got beat but we come away knowing we’re heading in the right direction for our grand finals.
“We’re exactly on target. We don’t need to change anything and the pressure of a 2000m race will suit both of them.
“She’s a star (Aeliana), she’ll win next year’s Makybe Diva, and she might win the one after that too.
“Aeliana is next year’s Via Sistina, simple as that.”
Aeliana and Via Sistina are likely to lock horns again in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 Results
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1st
1. Mr Brightside (1)
J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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2nd
6. Aeliana (5)
J: Damian Lane 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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3rd
5. Via Sistina (2)
J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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4th
3. Antino (4)
J: Blake Shinn 59kg
T: Tony Gollan |
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5th
2. Tom Kitten (6)
J: Ben Melham 59kg
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
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6th
4. Mark Twain (3)
J: Jamie Mott 59kg
T: Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
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