‘Mini’ Brightside set to take on Mr Brightside in All-Star Mile

There are two Group 1 races at Flemington on Saturday, the All-Star Mile and the Newmarket handicap. Randwick also has a pair with the Randwick Guineas and the Canterbury Stakes. Those will keep the betting sites busy and will give us plenty to discuss afterwards.

Vale Bernadette Payne

The Payne family have been part of the fabric of racing for a long time. Bernadette herself was a decent jockey in her day, saluting almost 200 times. Her sister Michelle won the Melbourne Cup on Prince Of Penzance.

Her father Paddy was a trainer. One of 10 children, Bernadette was always destined for a life in the racing industry. She retired from the saddle in 2009. Her family released a statement of her passing on Tuesday.

Battle of Brightside

Favourite for the All-Star Mile at Flemington on Saturday is Mr Brightside. On paper, it is set to be another big clash with Another Wil who just outsprinted the nine-time Group 1 winner when they met last month in the Orr.

Lurking in the shadows is a young pretender that the Hayes brothers have nicknamed ‘Mini’ Brightside. Rise At Dawn has won eight of his 13 career starts, his trajectory remarkably similar to his stablemate.

Ben Hayes spoke this week to remind the racing public that Mr Brightside was fourth in this race when trying it for the first time when at a similar stage in his career to where Rise At Dawn is right now.

It feels too soon to think that the son of Almanzor is going to be good enough to trouble his stronger stablemate just yet. He is a dual Listed winner so far with a strong Flemington record. It suggests that he is a runner that needs to be kept onside next season as a five-year-old.

Time off for Pinstriped

One runner that will not make the All-Star Mile is Pinstriped. Things have not really fallen right for him since he saluted in the Memsie in the spring. He has been a long way down the field in the Orr and the Futurity in his autumn prep.

The pick of his form so far in his career has come in the spring on dry tracks. Trainer Enver Jusufovic has recognised that and has put his stable star out in a paddock to give him a long spell ahead of a return. That should be the time of year to see him at his best again.

Karis Teetan to ride at Flemington on Saturday

It is November since the Hong Kong based jockey last rode in Australia. He was over for eight rides, including a mount in the Melbourne Cup. There was no success to be found on that occasion but he has a pair of interesting rides for Chris Waller on Saturday at Flemington.

Teetan will take the ride on the bottom weight Gatsby’s in the Newmarket Handicap. About a $14 chance at present, he is unexposed compared to most of the field and has to be of interest on his form when fifth in the Coolmore over track and distance in the spring.

His other ride will be on Aramco for the same owners in the Australian Cup Prelude. Unbeaten in a pair of second-up starts so far in his career, he is priced at $11 to continue that sequence.

We are entering one of the busiest times of the year as the autumn Group 1 races come thick and fast. It’s a time of plans coming to fruition for some, but also a time of sadness for others. Vale Bernadette Payne.