In his five-year career, the New Zealand-bred gelding Mr Brightside has won nine Group 1 races in Australia and 19 of 42 career starts.
Surprisingly, Mr Brightside’s richest win is not among those Group 1 victories. In 2023, Mr Brightside won the $3.34 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne when the field was largely selected by fan voting and was therefore not recognized as a Group 1.
The format was changed in 2024, with the field determined by nominations, wins in qualifying races, and by selection from a panel of racing officials.
This year, the All-Star Mile has Group 1 status for the first time, but prize money has been reduced to $1.58 million, the lowest since the race was launched in 2019.
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Friday’s All-Star Mile at Flemington Racecourse drew seven runners, another historic low, but includes Mr Brightside, who was second in the 2024 running at Caulfield Racecourse to Pride of Jenni, Australia’s Horse of the Year for the 2023-2024 season.
Pride of Jenni is not in Friday’s All-Star Mile, but is expected to return to racing in coming weeks.
Mr Brightside can win for the fifth time in his 12th appearance at Flemington Racecourse in the All-Star Mile. The All-Star Mile venues changes annually, but will be held at Flemington for three consecutive years beginning on Friday.
Mr Brightside and Another Wil will be close in the betting for the All-Star Mile. As of Thursday morning, Mr Brightside was 3-2, while Another Wil was 8-5.
Another Wil and Mr Brightside were first and second in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield on Feb. 8 in the first starts of the year for both runners. Another Wil has not raced since the Orr. Mr Brightside won the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield on Feb. 22, finishing a short head in front of Tom Kitten, a 4-1 chance in the All-Star Mile.
The All-Star Mile is the richest race of the weekend in Australia. Also at Flemington, the 4-year-old filly Joliestar leads a field of 15 in Friday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, which is worth $950,250 and run at six furlongs.
Joliestar was 4-1 on Thursday on the basis of a third-place finish by a half-length in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes at six furlongs on Feb. 15 in her 2025 debut. Joliestar was a Group 1 winner in November 2023, and won a Group 2 and a Group 3 stakes at six furlongs in 2024.
Joliestar must hold off a late threat from Streten Angel, who is winless in 10 starts since October 2023, but was a fast-closing second by a length in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington on Feb. 15.
Broadsiding favored in Randwick Guineas
Broadsiding, the champion 2-year-old for the 2023-2024 season in Australia, has made a case for the 3-year-old title in recent months.
The winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose for 3-year-olds last September, Broadsiding won his 2025 debut in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Feb. 22. The win has left Broadsiding an odds-on favorite to win his seventh stakes, and fourth Group 1, in Friday’s $633,500 Randwick Guineas for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at a mile at Royal Randwick.
Broadsiding has eight rivals, notably Swiftfalcon, who was second in the Hobartville Stakes in his first start since October.
The Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on Friday will be a more competitive betting race. In a field of 12, the 5-year-old mare Magic Time will be a slight favorite over the 3-year-old colt Switzerland.
Magic Time won the Expressway Stakes over Joliestar in her last start. Switzerland was fourth as the 7-5 favorite in the Lightning Stakes and will be better suited to this slightly longer trip.
The $475,125 Canterbury Stakes is part of a 10-race program at Randwick that begins at 8:20 p.m. Eastern or 5:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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