THE first G1 race held in Melbourne for the season, the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday more than lived up to expectations with a stellar race won by Australia’s unassuming rising star Mr Brightside.
There’s little doubt the Memsie Stakes will prove to be a great stepping stone for spring for its placegetters Mr Brightside, I Wish I Win and Princess Grace and for some of the unplaced runners.
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Although Craig Williams declared Mr Brightside Australia’s best miler, it is the Cox Plate which the Hayes brothers have a laser like focus on.
PlayUp firmed Mr Brightside in from $15 into $7.50 second favourite for the Cox Plate.
Mr Brightside has now put together a sequence of four wins which haven’t been matched since Winx retired with victories in the All Star Mile, the Doncaster Mile, the Lawrence Stakes and now the Memsie Stakes.
He will have his next start in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 16.
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s bold plan to win the Memsie Stakes with I Wish I Win almost paid off with him running on powerfully for second. He will now have his next start in The Everest where he is $4.80 second favourite with PlayUp.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s American mare Princess Grace also looks in for a big spring after her placing.
The best run outside of the placegetters was Mick Price Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior’s Amenable who ran on powerfully to finish fifth after being slowly away. He is being set for the Toorak Handicap and the Golden Eagle.
Outside of the Memsie Stakes, the most notable run of the day was produced by Chris Waller’s Soulcombe who sprinted home powerfully to win the Heatherlie Handicap easily.
He is now $10 second favourite for the Melbourne Cup with PlayUp.
