Mr Brightside makes an emphatic statement at Caulfield
Lindsay Park trained Mr Brightside has made an emphatic statement ahead of the spring with an impressive first-up win at Caulfield.
The Ben, Will and J d Hayes-trained galloper recorded a second win in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on Saturday under a perfect ride from Craig Williams.
Sent off the $2.35 Unibet.com.au favourite, Mr Brightside scored by 1-¾ lengths from Pinstriped ($6) with Aegon ($20) and eye-catching third, a nose away.
To add merit to the victory, Mr Brightside ran slick time for the trip, returning 1.21.71, just 0.51 secs outside of the course record on a good 4 rated surface.
Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside was likely to head to the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) back at Caulfield in a fortnight followed by the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington two weeks later.
That race will determine Mr Brightside’s spring path with the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 14 or the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28 the gelding’s potential spring targets.
Hayes admitted to being nervous pre-race, but those fears were quickly allayed by Williams who put the gelding in the perfect position.
“From when he jumped, he landed in a beautiful position, and it was an easy watch,” Hayes said.
“It was an absolute 10-out-of-10 ride by Craig.
“We’ll see how he pulls up first, but the Memsie will probably be his next run and then the Makybe Diva and from there we’ll make a decision, but Sydney looks quite tempting.
“There’s some nice money up there and we’ll have to see how he is racing. We’ll take it race by race, but the Memsie is probably his next start.”
One brother missing from the Lindsay Park training team was Will who was playing Australian Rules Football for Euroa against Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley League on Saturday.
“I think Will would have had the water boy running out the results, and I think he’ll be a very happy man,” J D Hayes said.
Williams said the way the Hayes brothers prepared Mr Brightside for his return made his job easy.
He said his job was to turn up on race day and on jump-out days to put the gelding through his paces.
Williams added Mr Brightside had gone to another level from 12 months ago.
“It is quite scary as he is arguably the best miler in Australia,” Williams said.
“There are some good options for him and he’s just starting to show how good he is from this preparation onwards.
“Mentally he is a much more professional horse, and you could feel that today.
“I was hoping he would bring that to the races, and he did.”
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...