If there is any merit to the theory that racing against Pride Of Jenni takes more out of horses, no galloper has been exposed to potential ill-effects more this year than Mr Brightside.
The Ben, Will and Jd Hayes-trained gelding has been a rival of Pride Of Jenni four times in 2024, starting with the CF Orr Stakes – which he won narrowly – but then chased her home in the All-Star Mile (second), Australian Cup (fifth) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (third).
Mr Brightside headed for a well-earned break after the Queen Elizabeth on April 13, which Ben Hayes said the rising seven-year-old, who returned to work earlier this month, embraced.
“We can’t fault him, he’s a happy horse and he’s working great,” Hayes said.
“He put on nearly 40-45 kilos, so he had a really good holiday.
“He’s carrying some nice condition, but that’s a good position to be in at this time.”
The son of Bullbars will be stepped up to even-time work this week but is being prepared to start his spring campaign later than the past two seasons.
Last year he became just the third dual winner of the PB Lawrence Stakes and a shot at becoming the first three-time winner of that Group 2 event beckons, but Hayes said his new-season debut would come in Caulfield’s other 1400m weight-for-age event in August.
“We’re going to miss the Lawrence,” Hayes said. “We just wanted to give him a little bit more of a break and we’ll go to the Memsie first-up.
“There are not many other options for a horse like him, otherwise you’re kicking off over a mile, so the Memsie will be the go at this stage and then there is no direct path towards a race like a Cox Plate for us.”
Mr Brightside also won last year’s $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes, which will this year be run at Caulfield on August 31.
