Australia: Mr Brightside takes another crack at 1 1/4 miles in Australian Cup

For all that he has accomplished in New Zealand and Australia, notably five Group 1 wins in the last year, Mr Brightside has never won beyond slightly more than a mile.

The issue is at the fore of his appearance in Friday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. The $1.95 million Australian Cup will be Mr Brightside’s fourth start at 1 1/4 miles.

Mr Brightside’s three losses at the distance were not embarrassing, a fourth by slightly more than two lengths in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup in October 2022, a seventh by 2 1/2 lengths in the Group 1 Cox Plate two weeks later, and a second by a head in the Cox Plate last October.

The latter race in particularly will leave Mr Brightside’s backers hopeful that the 6-year-old gelding can win for the 17th time in his 33rd start in the Australian Cup.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Trained by the brothers Ben, Will, and J.D. Hayes, Mr Brightside won his first two starts this year in Group 1 races at seven furlongs before he finished second by two lengths to the brilliant mare Pride of Jenni in the $2.46 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield Racecourse on March 16. Mr Brightside closed from 10th in a field of 12 to be nearest the front at the finish.

In early betting for the Australian Cup, Mr Brightside was a slight favorite at 8-5 with Pride of Jenni at 9-5 in a field of nine. Pride of Jenni, who often sets the pace, won consecutive Group 1 races at a mile at Flemington on consecutive Saturdays in November.

The Australian Cup is Pride of Jenni’s second start at 1 1/4 miles. She faded from the front to finish eight of 13 in the Group 3 JRA Plate at 1 1/4 miles last April, a loss that resulted in a five-month layoff. The All-Star Mile is her richest win in 27 starts.

Post Impressionist heads Tancred Stakes

The 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding Post Impressionist had a dazzling debut in Australia on March 23, winning his first start in more than six months in the Group 3 Manion Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Rosehill Gardens.

A week later, more is expected of Post Impressionist for his Group 1 debut in the $977,000 Tancred Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Rosehill Gardens. Trained by William Haggas of Britain, Post Impressionist won the lucrative Old Borough Cup at 1 3/4 miles at Haydock Park between Liverpool and Manchester last September in his final start in that country.

A winner of 4 of 14 starts, Post Impressionist has raced at extended distances throughout his career, which began in early 2022.

In the Tancred Stakes, Post Impressionist will be favored over the 8-year-old gelding Ashrun, who was fourth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at two miles at Flemington last November and won the listed Pakenham Cup at 1 9/16 miles on March 16 by closing from sixth of 12.

Tom Kitten, the lone Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old in the field, will face older runners for the first time. He won the Group 1 Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds last October, but is winless in four starts this year.

Tom Kitten was sixth by 1 1/2 lengths in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas at 1 1/4 miles on March 23.

The brilliant New Zealand-bred filly Orchestral will be an odds-on favorite to win her Australian debut in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, a $488,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Friday.

Orchestral, who is part of a field of 11, has won her last four starts, including the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at 1 1/2 miles at Ellerslie Racecourse on March 2.

Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.