Stride for stride – will it be Pride Of Jenni or Mr Brightside in the VRC Champions Mile?

8 November 2024 • Written by VRC

The rivalry between Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni has become one of the most exciting modern competitions in Australian racing. The two horses, both Group 1 winners, have faced off multiple times. The competition between these two exceptional horses continues tomorrow as they battle for supremacy in the Group 1 VRC Champions Mile tomorrow.

Both horses have claimed major victories or placed in big races over the past year and have faced off eight times in the past 12 months

Their most recent clashes were Mr Brightside chasing down Pride Of Jenni in the Makybe Diva Stakes and coming out the victor, but Pride Of Jenni was not going to be denied in the Feehan Stakes.

HEAD -TO-HEAD

Pride Of Jenni	5
Mr Brightside	4

Date \| Track \| Race # \| Race Prizemoney \| Racename \| Distance \| Last 600m Sectional/Time
Placing - Horse	Margin	Weight	Jockey (Barrier)	Starting Price	Prizemoney won
26 Oct 2024 \| M V \| R9 \| AUD $5,050,000 \| Ladbrokes Cox Plate \| 2040m \| 35.36/ 2:01.07
4th - MR BRIGHTSIDE	10.3L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (2)	$7.50	AUD $250,000
8th - PRIDE OF JENNI	15.8L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (7)	$4.00	AUD $75,000
27 Sep 2024 \| M V \| R4 \| AUD $501,500 \| Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes \| 1600m \| 36.1/ 1:34.67
1st - PRIDE OF JENNI	1.5L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (1)	$1.90	AUD $301,500
2nd - MR BRIGHTSIDE	1.5L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (3)	$2.10	AUD $90,000
14 Sep 2024 \| FLEM \| R8 \| AUD $755,325 \| Crown Makybe Diva Stakes \| 1600m \| 37.6/ 1:38.98
1st - MR BRIGHTSIDE	0.5L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (4)	$3.50	AUD $455,325
2nd - PRIDE OF JENNI	0.5L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (7)	$5.00	AUD $135,000
31 Aug 2024 \| CAUL \| R9 \| AUD $754,950 \| Stow Storage Memsie Stakes \| 1400m \| 35.08/ 1:22.66
2nd - MR BRIGHTSIDE	0.4L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (4)	$2.50	AUD $135,000
5th - PRIDE OF JENNI	5.7L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (7)	$2.90	AUD $18,750
13 Apr 2024 \| RAND \| R8 \| AUD $5,000,000 \| Queen Elizabeth Stakes \| 2000m \| 37.83/ 2:02.02
1st - PRIDE OF JENNI	6.5L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (3)	$7.00	AUD $3,064,500
3rd - MR BRIGHTSIDE	8.4L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (9)	$10	AUD $425,000
30 Mar 2024 \| FLEM \| R8 \| AUD $3,005,000 \| TAB Australian Cup \| 2000m \| 34.74/ 2:00.05
2nd - PRIDE OF JENNI	0.3L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (7)	$3.50	AUD $540,000
5th - MR BRIGHTSIDE	4.8L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (1)	$3.00	AUD $75,000
16 Mar 2024 \| CAUL \| R8 \| AUD $3,750,000 \| The Sharp EIT All-Star Mile \| 1600m \| 36.29/ 1:35.22
1st - PRIDE OF JENNI	2L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (6)	$3.80	AUD $2,000,000
2nd - MR BRIGHTSIDE	2L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (11)	$2.00	AUD $600,000
10 Feb 2024 \| CAUL \| R9 \| AUD $752,000 \| Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes \| 1400m \| 35.39/ 1:22.27
1st - MR BRIGHTSIDE	0.1L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (4)	$1.90	AUD $452,000
2nd - PRIDE OF JENNI	0.1L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (3)	$9.00	AUD $135,000
11 Nov 2023 \| FLEM \| R7 \| AUD $3,005,325 \| Kennedy Champions Mile \| 1600m \| 35.38/ 1:34.75
1st - PRIDE OF JENNI	1.3L	57.0kg	DECLAN BATES (3)	$13	AUD $1,805,325
2nd - MR BRIGHTSIDE	1.3L	59.0kg	CRAIG WILLIAMS (2)	$3.00	AUD $540,000

While Craig Williams admires the “amazing” Pride Of Jenni, he realises he has to use his horse’s strengths and exploit some of her weaknesses. “We’ve beaten her, she’s beaten us … but luckily enough I’ve got a really good horse in Mr Brightside and he’s always a willing competitor.”

Stride for stride – will it be Pride Of Jenni or Mr Brightside in the VRC Champions Mile?

HEAD -TO-HEAD

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