Australian Racing: Mr Brightside to Star at Flemington

There are four Group 1 races to enjoy on Saturday, as Flemington is the venue for the All Star Mile and the Newmarket Handicap and Randwick stages the Randwick Guineas and the Canterbury Stakes.

They also race at Alice Springs, Bunbury, Corowa, Edenhope, Geraldton, Hawkesbury, Mount Isa, Murray Bridge, Toowoomba and Towong on a massive day of racing across the country.

Race 7 Flemington

Mr Brightside @ 2.50

Race 7 Randwick

Broadsiding @ 1.60

Race 9 Flemington

Rey Magnerio @ 10.00

Mr Brightside to repeat Futurity success

The sixth race of the day at Flemington is the most valuable contest of the day, with a total of $2,500,000 on offer in the Group 1 All Star Mile over 1600m.

A small but select field of seven is set to go to post on a good 4 track, with Another Wil expected to prove popular as he chases back-to-back Group 1 victories.

The gelding showed good form last prep and he returned to action with a victory by just under half-a-length in the 1400m Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield last month.

Regular rider Jamie Melham, on board that day, is again set to ride here and her mount looks to hold strong claims of confirming the form with MR BRIGHTSIDE.

Preference is for Ben, JD & Will Hayes’ galloper, however, with the New Zealand-bred having won in Group 1 company in the interim.

That Group 1 success came when contesting the 1400m Futurity Stakes back at Caulfield two weeks ago.

The 2.50 selection overcame a double-figure barrier when getting home by a narrow margin from Tom Kitten, who re-opposes in this contest that day.

The gelding registered a win in this race two years ago when racing at Moonee Valley, while he met trouble in running at Caulfield when second in this contest twelve months ago.

The pick should have no issues jumping from barrier five here and, with underfoot conditions to suit, he looks up to recording the 20th win of his career.

Broadsiding looks good for Guineas glory

The highlight at Randwick is the Group 1 Randwick Guineas set to take place on a good 4 track over 1600m.

The race, which comes up as the seventh race of the day, sees the first three from last month’s Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill all reoppose.

Third-placed Aeliana had ended her last prep with a good second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in November.

Chris Waller’s daughter of Castelvecchio is attempting to become the first filly to take this race since Mosheen triumphed back in 2012.

She will have to reverse the Rosehill form with a couple of her rivals here, including Swiftfalcon, if she is to accomplish that feat however.

Swiftfalcon lost out by just under a length when placing second in the previously mentioned Group 2 contest, having won in Listed company over this track and trip earlier this season.

That track and trip success in October was followed by a Group 3 second and a sixth in the 2000m Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes here in October.

BROADSIDING was the winner of the previously mentioned Hobartville Stakes and he is expected to prove hard to beat when stepping back up to 1600m.

The Too Darn Hot colt demonstrated strong form as a two-year-old, winning twice at the top level, including in the Champagne Stakes here last April.

James Cummings’ representative had mixed fortunes earlier this season, winning at the highest level in the Golden Rose prior to finishing fourth in the Caulfield Guineas.

The 1.60 pick took on his older rivals in his final two starts of his last prep, including when ten lengths third in the Group 1 Cox Plate over 2040m at Moonee Valley.

James McDonald takes the ride for the first time since his Caulfield Guineas defeat and, with a good barrier, his mount looks up to recording his fourth Group 1 win.

Rey to take out Newmarket Stakes

The second of Flemington’s two Group 1 races is the 1200m Newmarket Handicap due off as the ninth race on the card.

Robbie Griffiths’ REY MAGNERIO has been in good form this season, finishing in the top three on all seven starts.

Two of those efforts have come this prep, including when winning by a narrow margin in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield last month.

The son of Magnus went on to be beaten two lengths into third when contesting a 16-runner renewal of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate over the same track and trip.

The step up to 1200m is no issue here, with the 10.00 gelding having won over this course and distance in Listed company back in November.

Jockey Jye McNeil knows the gelding well and the pick looks capable of recording his third win in six starts at this venue.