Looking On the Brightside in Doncaster Mile

Mark Smith - Saturday April 2

A great result for Victoria and an even better one for the New Zealand thoroughbred industry as the Bullbars gelding Mr Brightside led home a 1-2-3 for New Zealand-breds in Saturday’s $3,000,000 Group 1 The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.

Can't wipe the smile off Craig Williams (image Steve Hart)

A first Group 1 for brothers Ben and JD Hayes, Mr Brighside did best under Craig Williams in a driving finish to defeat Shocking’s Group 1 MRC Toorak Handicap hero I'm Thunderstruck by a half length with a further long neck back to the enigmatic Sacred Falls mare Icebath in third.

The best previous stakes result for Mr Brightside came when culminating a six-start winning streak in the Listed Seymour Cup at Ballarat last October.

Purchased privately after making a luckless fifth at Matamata on debut in February last year, Mr Brightside advances his record to seven wins, a second and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $2,337,387.

“With all of the change we’ve had the past year with Dad (David Hayes) going to Hong Kong and Tom (Dabernig) leaving the partnership, to get a result like this with all of our team is just the biggest thrill,” Ben Hayes said.

“Brightside is a special horse to us. He was our first city winner and first stakes winner in Victoria and now he is our first Group 1 winner. He is a special, special horse.

“Wayne Ormond purchased him out of a race in New Zealand and offered him to us. We got a couple of our clients, he got a couple of his clients and he just kept improving.

Everyone is smiling (image Steve Hart)

“A lot of our owners did back us, there were a couple that left but hopefully they come back now. We’re hungry and we want to succeed and we’re getting it done.

“He won impressively so we’ll have a good talk about where we go next. Don’t make raceday decisions.”

“Ever since he ran fourth in the Cantala it’s been a long range plan which has just come into place beautifully and aided by a perfect ride.

“I want to give a shout out to Joe Molinaro, who is one of the owners, who can’t be here, unfortunately, he tested positive to COVID. He’ll be absolutely loving this and it is a great moment for everyone.

A milestone for Ben and JD Hayes (image Steve Hart)

“Craig formed that relationship with Dad when they both came back from Hong Kong and he was stable jockey. He has had a lot of success for our family and it is great to continue with tradition.”

Purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) for $22,000 from the Phoenix Park draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka May Sale, Mr Brightside failed to find a buyer willing to pay his $50,000 reserve at the 2019 NZB Ready To Run Sale.

He is the best of two winners from the Tavistock mare Lilahjay whose dam Keepable (Keeper) is a half-sister to Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas and Group 1 WRC Captain Cook Stakes winner Foxwood (Centaine) and Group III AJC Frank Packer Plate winner Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar).

Mr Brightside is the first Group 1 winner for the Group III winning Elusive Quality stallion Bullbars, a half-brother to Group 1 winners Epaulette and Helmet.

After beginning his career at Highview Stud, Bullbars stood the last two seasons at Orange Court in South Australia.  

 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Star Doncaster Mile Gr1 1600m

Randwick Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:39.94
1
Mr Brightside
- 4g Bullbars (AUS) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 50.5
2
0.5
I'm Thunderstruck
- 4g Shocking (AUS) x Primadonna Girl (NZ) (Edenwold (CAN))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: J Bowman 55.5
3
0.9
Icebath
- 5m Sacred Falls (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Fred W Kersley 52
4
1.6
Forbidden Love
- 4m All Too Hard (AUS) x Juliet's Princess (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: Jamie Kah 50
5
2.7
Dalasan
- 5h Dalakhani (IRE) x Khandallah (AUS) (Kitten's Joy (USA))
Tnr: L Macdonald & A Gluyas Rdr: C Schofield 53.5
6
2.9
Bankers Choice
- 4g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Signorina (NZ) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Teodore Nugent 50
7
3.2
Ellsberg
- 4h Spill The Beans (AUS) x Love Of Liberty (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tim Clark 52
8
3.8
Lighthouse
- 5m Mizzen Mast (USA) x More Hoping (USA) (North Light (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Damian Lane 53
9
3.9
Cascadian
- 7g New Approach (IRE) x Falls Of Lora (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
10
4.7
Laws Of Indices
- 4h Power (GB) x Sampers (IRE) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tommy Berry 53
11
4.8
King Magnus
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Influential Miss (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Brock Ryan 50
12
4.9
Brutality
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Star Salute (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Ford 50.5
13
6.2
Just Folk
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Fast Ruby (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: Joshua Julius Rdr: Dean Holland 50
14
6.4
Inspirational Girl
- 6m Reliable Man (GB) x Be Inspired (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: W Pike 51.5
15
7.1
Numerian
- 6g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Delicate Charm (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: R Dolan 51
16
7.4
Kiku
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Atotori (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms L J Meech 50
17
7.6
Sky Lab
- 4g Real Impact (JPN) x Gold Mission (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 51.5
18
9.7
Converge
- 3g Frankel (GB) x Conversely (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Rachel King 49.5
19
14.6
Private Eye
- 4g Al Maher (AUS) x Confidential Queen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
20
20.0
Kissonallforcheeks
- 4m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Rosie Rocket (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: A B Collett 51
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Mr Brightside on Target for Cox Plate
Lindsay Park were runner-up in last year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) with Mr Brightside, and they are hoping they can go one better in this year’s edition where they will be represented once more by the Kiwi-bred, as well as his compatriot Evaporate.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Winx Foals a Snitzel Colt
The owners of Winx have announced the champion mare has foaled a healthy colt by Snitzel early on Monday morning.
Do Deuce From Last to First in Japan Cup
The visitors were once again humbled by the locals in the 44th running of Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Emotional Win for Mr Brightside in G1 Champions Mile - Pride of Jenni Retired
Fourth in 2021, third in 2022 and second in 2023, the magnificent Mr Brightside raised the bat in the 2024 $3,000,000 Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
Mr Brightside NZTBA Horse of the Year
The Seton Otway Horse of the Year went the way of star galloper Mr Brightside at Saturday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro.
Cosmic Vega Breaks Through in Kilmore Cup
A rapidly deteriorating track at Kilmore proved the winning formula for the Irish import Cosmic Vega (IRE) and visiting English rider Saffie Osborne to open their Australian accounts in Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet365 Kilmore Cup (1600m).
Yulong Announce Sad Passing of G1 Winning Mare
Yulong released a video Tweet last week recapping their sensational spring carnival results and also revealing the passing of their dual Group I winning Frankel mare Hungry Heart.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 24
Here is the full list of 72 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.