Kiwi Bred Mr Brightside Looking for Another G1

Media Release - Thursday September 22

Exciting gelding Mr Brightside could extend his winning run to four at Sandown on Sunday when he lines-up in a competitive-looking Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

It will be the first time the son of Bullbars will be tested over further than a mile, but the increase in trip poses no concerns for trainers Ben and JD Hayes.

Mr Brightside is ready for another G1 - image Grant Courtney

The brothers have always had time for the five-year-old who they believe has gone to another level this spring after winning both of his outings – the Gr.2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m).

“He has shown he is up to weight-for-age class, winning at Group Two level. This will be a real test I am looking forward to seeing how he goes,” Ben Hayes told RSN.

Advertisement

“It will be the first time we see him over a mile, but I don’t think that will be a problem.

“In his win in the Feehan he ran the fastest last 600m of the entire meeting and there were sprint races on that day. It is often a good sign that you are going to get further than a mile.”

Mr Brightside will be met by a small but select field this weekend but the Lindsay Park team believe their charge will be more than competitive.

“It is only small but it is a cracker field (on Sunday), they are all very good horses,” Hayes said.

“I am really interested to see what happens. Small fields are very tactical and I think the horse with the best run will win.

“I think he has improved from his last prep. He does need to improve to be competitive in the races that we are aiming him for.

“If he finishes top three and is competitive I will be very happy. It means we are on track. It is not our grand final, there is improvement to come in him.

“We haven’t really screwed him down for this race and we will allow him to improve naturally.”

The Kiwi import was originally trained by Ralph Manning in Cambridge, for whom he ran a luckless fifth in his sole New Zealand start at Matamata before being sold privately to clients of the Hayes stable via Australian agent Wayne Ormond.

Manning and good friends Shaun Dromgool and Ray Johnson purchased Mr Brightside as an unraced two-year-old off gavelhouse.com for just $7,750, with some insight into the youngster.

Johnson, with his late wife Martha, had bred and sold the son of Bullbars as a yearling at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale for $22,000 via Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park before he had failed to meet his $50,000 reserve when re-offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.

Later an opportunity arose to buy him back off gavelhouse.com and despite being aware the horse had a few tricks, Johnson jumped at the opportunity to buy back in. – NZ Racing Desk

 

 

 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bellatrix Star to Lead Flemington Contenders for Te Akau and Fortuna
The Melbourne Cup Carnival holds special memories for both Te Akau Racing and Fortuna Racing, and there could be more to come with five black-type contenders on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.
Switzerland Brother an Inglis Easter Highlight for 2025
An “arrogant’’, “dominant’’ and “awesome’’ victory solidified Easter Sale superstar Switzerland’s future at stud when he produced a devastating performance to win the stallion making G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington today.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G1 Breeders Cup Turf Juvenile Colts
The worldwide winning wave of juvenile winners for Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett rolled into Del Mar in North America on Friday when talented colt Henri Matisse claimed victory in the Group I Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile (1m).
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 1
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.