The two top fancies in Saturday’s (30 March) Australian Cup (2000m) – Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni – both must overcome a major drawback if they are to win the Group 1 race at Flemington.

Brilliant galloper Mr Brightside, already a six-timer Group 1 winner, and the brave front-running mare Pride Of Jenni, are both yet to register a win at the 2000m distance of the AU$3 million (approx. HK$15 million) race.

Pride Of Jenni again adopted catch-me-if-you-can tactics in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield when she held off the fast-finishing Mr Brightside to win by two lengths.

Mr Brightside, who has been nominated for the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) and the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 28 April, was slowly away and at one point of the race conceded Pride Of Jenni roughly 15 lengths before storming home.

With all of his 16 wins at the 1400m to 1630m range, Mr Brightside came agonisingly close to winning last year’s G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) but was denied by the narrowest of margins by Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior.

Pride Of Jenni, the winner of two 1600m Group 1s, has raced only once beyond 1600m when she finished a well beaten eighth in Group 3 company over 2000m on a heavy track at Randwick last April, when she again led by a big margin but faded.

It’s being billed as a race in two, but last year’s Australian Cup winner – Cascadian – returned to form last start in the All-Star Mile to finish third behind Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside after working home strongly from well back in the field.

Despite the long Flemington straight, trainer Ciaron Maher is confident that Pride Of Jenni, under jockey Declan Bates, will be able to perform over 2000m.

“I think it’s the right time to take on the 10 furlongs … it is a question if she goes the 2000 metres, she’s gone there once and was on a back-up and is clearly in better form now,” Maher said.

Bates is also confident Pride Of Jenni can lead all the way on Saturday with the right ride and timing.

“We are confident she’ll get it (2000m), no worries,” he said.

“She is much more relaxed these days, and I’ll just rate her accordingly. If she does it the right way, I think she’ll run out a strong 2000 (metres).”

Bates said Pride Of Jenni had plenty of speed, but also the ability to sustain that speed.

“In all of her wins, they often get to her to a point and she’s been able to hold them,” he said.

“That’s the way she can sustain a gallop. Because of that, that’s why you think she will get further.”

Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside have clashed three times, with the mare winning two of those contests over 1600m, and the gelding narrowly winning the G1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).

Mr Brightside’s trainer Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, said the six-year gelding had pulled up well from his All-Star Mile second and thrives off having a two-week break between races.

Visiting New Zealand mare Legarto and the Chris Waller-trained mare Atishu are certain to attract plenty of admirers, along with the Danny O’Brien pair Young Werther and veteran Vow And Declare, who are both good 2000m and Flemington horses.