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
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...