Making his first start since his career highlight in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile, Mr Brightside had his burgeoning fan base on their feet with a first-up triumph in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Craig Williams for Ben and JD Hayes, the 5yo son of Bullbars came with a well-timed run to defeat I Am Superman (IRE) (Footstepsinthesand) by a half-neck with a neck back to the front-running Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission) in third.
Mr Brightside advances his record to eight wins, a second, and a third from 14 starts with earnings of $2,657,637.
“This horse is super special and has put us on the map, Ben Hayes said.
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“Boy, he was tough. He knuckled down and hit the line hard. He was in for the fight, and that is exciting going forward because he wasn’t wound up today.
“This was the first time he has won for us first up.
“I would love to get him out to 2000m this prep. I think we will stick to our guns and go next to the Feehan at the Valley. That might give us an idea of where we go after that.”
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.
Trainer Ralph Manning and friends Shaun Dromgool and Ray Johnson purchased Mr Brightside as an unraced two-year-old off gavelhouse.com for just $7,750.
After one start for Manning, a fifth at Matamata, Mr Brightside was purchased by Australian interests.
The son of Billbars 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).
A half-brother to Group 1 winners Epaulette and Helmet, Bullbars started his career at Highview Stud before transferring to Orange Court in South Australia.
