Cafe Millenium's return at Caulfield

An indication of Cafe Millenium's potential will be provided to the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and J D Hayes via an earlier race on Saturday's Caulfield card.

Cafe Millenium is scheduled to compete first-up in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1400m), two races prior to the anticipated return of Mr Brightside from a break necessitated by injury, in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes over the same distance and track.

Having previously been trained in Sydney by John O'Shea and Tom Charlton, Cafe Millenium has been under the guidance of the Hayes brothers for its last two racing campaigns.

Cafe Millenium has progressed significantly, moving from a benchmark 84 victory in its second start for Lindsay Park to achieving success on three occasions at Listed level.

It is this progression that has seen Cafe Millenium act as the sparring partner for Mr Brightside as he prepares for his return to racing following surgery to address a bone chip in his fetlock earlier this year.

While Mr Brightside benefited from a trial at Caulfield Heath two Saturdays ago, Cafe Millenium galloped alongside its more prominent stablemate between races at Sandown last week, emerging slightly ahead of the Lindsay Park contender.

"He's been the work partner of Mr Brightside the whole way through the preparation," stated Ben Hayes.

"And I think Cafe Millennium is going particularly well and he's not just a morning glory.

"He's always worked well at home, and he always gives you confidence going into races, whereas Brightside is the opposite, always being a bit lazy in his gallops."

Apprentice Jackson Radley has been instrumental in Cafe Millenium's preparation for its racing comeback, which included a victory in a 1000m jump-out at Flemington on August 14.

"Jacko has been very happy with his work, and we think he will run well fresh," Hayes commented.

Despite the advantage of Radley's 2kg claim bringing Cafe Millenium's weight to 60kg on Saturday, they face the challenge of the second widest starting position in the 15-horse field.

Sepals, who won last year's benchmark 100 race on this day first-up, went on to claim the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over the same course and distance three weeks later, providing a potential guide for Saturday's contest.

Check out the latest racing odds at leading bookmakers for the Caulfield meeting.