Miles ahead for Mr Brightside in 2025
A week has passed since Mr Brightside’s thrilling victory in the Champions Mile at Flemington and the Lindsay Park team are still beaming with pride in what he was able to achieve on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
In the midst of a freshen after a six-start campaign that notched two Group 1 wins – both at Flemington over 1600-metres – and three other placings at the highest level, the gelding has spent the last seven days at the Hayes’ farm where rest and relaxation has been mixed with time on the water walker.
“He’s a very happy horse in the day paddocks and he’ll be back in work before you know it,” Ben Hayes said.
For next year, it is races over the mile that will dominate Mr Brightside’s program of which in the autumn that could include an appearance in the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington or a trip to Sydney before heading they scratch the Hong Kong itch to take on the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin in late April.
“It’s the right time,” Ben Hayes said.
“He’s seven, he’s done all he can here in Australia – he’s been very competitive – and I think now all in the ownership are happy to keep him at a mile.”
Backing the stable’s thinking, according to Racing and Sports ratings some of Mr Brightside’s best performances have been over 1600 metres with his peak ratings of 125 achieved in the Group 1 Champions Mile last weekend at Flemington and in the same race in 2023, together with the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes in September.
He also achieved a rating of 125 in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in 2023 when finishing a narrow second to Romantic Warrior to show just strong the company is that he has kept.
“Probably next spring we’ll look to aim at a King Charles III Stakes rather than a Cox Plate,” Ben added.
“That would then allow a month between that run and then the Champions Mile at Flemington.”
Despite a future focus on 1600-metres or thereabouts for the gelding, the Hayes trio are not discounting a return to events over ten furlongs.
“He’s shown that he’s an elite miler even though we still think he runs 2000-metres but he’s just been unlucky in those strongly run race,” he added.
“What can you do? That’s racing.
“It isn’t set in stone but the ownership group and us trainers, we think we’ll keep him at a mile.”
More Racing News
All-Star Mile next for Sabaj following blood test setback
Sabaj, under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, faces a puzzling field in the All-Star Mile with Pride Of Jenni taking part.Saturday's All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington is now the primary target for Sabaj, who skipped last week's Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington due to unsatisfactory blood...
Baraqiel to trial blinkers for Newmarket Handicap push
Baraqiel faces an uphill battle with the weights in pursuit of success in one of the nation's premier short-distance contests, the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.Post-1973 metric weight implementation, merely three runners have prevailed in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) carrying more than 57.5kg, with the race set for Saturday.In...
Green Spaces earns Rachel King's trust for Randwick Guineas tilt
Returning from a triumphant riding spell in Japan, Rachel King has her eyes set on the Sydney autumn series, with a key engagement aboard the inexperienced three-year-old gelding Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas.The esteem in which King views the Bjorn Baker stable's charge prompted her to jet in from...
Fortunes due to improve for backmarker Bauhinia
Bauhinia, known for settling towards the rear naturally, has often lacked the rub of the green in her races.Co-trainer Lee Curtis expects the mare to see her luck change for the better over autumn, kicking off in Saturday's Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick."Her work has been as good as...
Gibbons lands timely Linebacker mount after Rosehill breakthrough
An ordinary benchmark contest at Rosehill back in July evolved into a career highlight for Dylan Gibbons, setting him up to steer star performer Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.The promising jockey, mere months removed from shoulder surgery, had steered Good Banter to victory in that midwinter feature.Post-race, he...
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...