Mr Brightside has had his first public hit out for 2025, and Lindsay Park have planned the first three runs of their star galloper’s Autumn campaign before a final decision on international travel is made.
The seven-year-old gelding is showing no signs of slowing down and is set to resume in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) on February 8th before progressing to the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 All Star Mile (1600m), all races he’s won in the past.
Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers JD and Will, said Mr Brightside has done everything he can in Australia, with the Group 1 Hong Kong Champions Mile (1600m) on April 27th firmly on the radar.
“So he’s got three definite runs here and then we might consider going to Sydney to run in the George Ryder, and then that would lead into Hong Kong, or we run the three runs here and go straight to Hong Kong,’ Hayes said.
“I think it’s the right time. He’s done everything he can here in Australia, he’s got nothing much to prove.”
Mr Brightside had an 800m jump out at Werribee on Friday, running on for third under no riding by apprentice Jaylah Kennedy, and Hayes said it was exactly what the stable were looking for.
“He was fantastic. For a first jump out, I thought it was very good for him. We had Jaylah Kennedy aboard and she rode it beautifully, just brought him to the middle of the track and his work through the line was great, exactly what we’re looking for, so we’re thrilled with the way he’s going,” Hayes said.
“He looks a million dollars. He’s going to have one more jump out at Geelong and then he’s going to go first up into the Orr… If you go back and look at his first jump outs in other preps, this one was probably his best one he’s had.”
Hayes confirmed Mr Brightside had already been given his vaccinations in order to travel to Hong Kong and said the eight-time Group 1 winner had shown no adverse effects.
“I prefer to do it (vaccinate) in a spell. They affect every horse in a different way. Some don’t even get affected, so at this stage, it looks like it hasn’t affected him at all,” Hayes said.
“He’s won a lot of group ones and a lot of high-class group ones. So I think it’s a great time of year to go to Hong Kong.”
