Mr Brightside prepares for CF Orr Stakes return

Mr Brightside will return to the scene of his maiden victory when he trials at Geelong.

The Lindsay Park-trained galloper won his maiden at Geelong in July 2021, his third race start and the beginning of a six-race winning streak that eventually led to Mr Brightside becoming one of Australia’s best gallopers.

Mr Brightside is being prepared for a first-up tilt at the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8, a race he won last year when scoring from Pride Of Jenni.

Wednesday’s Geelong trial will be the second hit-out for Mr Brightside after trainers Ben, Will, and J D Hayes took the gelding to Werribee for an 800m jump-out on January 17.

Mr Brightside is down to trial in the second heat of the morning over 1000m, where opposition includes Red Aces, Arabian Summer, and Plenty Of Ammo.

The important set of trials were pushed back a day, owing to the Geelong race meeting that was to be run on Monday being rescheduled to Tuesday because of extreme heat.

Trainer Dominic Sutton will trial Caulfield Guineas runner-up Feroce over 1200m, having scratched the gelding from Mr Brightside’s trial.

Down to trial against Feroce on Wednesday is last year’s Queensland Derby winner Warmonger, who has not been sighted since finishing eighth in the Caulfield Cup, and champion jumper Stern Idol, who is preparing for the upcoming jumps season.

Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment is down to trial over 1000m in heat three of the morning, where she will meet fellow high-class three-year-old Too Darn Discreet.

Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy will have a strong team of two-year-olds present, with 13 horses entered across three two-year-old heats.

A total of 14 trials are set to be conducted on Wednesday morning before racing heads to Sandown for a twilight meeting.