Mr Brightside’s toughness has always been his leading trait, and he had to call on all of his determination to win the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sent out as a $1.70 favourite, the seven-year-old gelding kicked clear in the straight under Craig Williams after sitting outside the leader but had to ward off the challengers, first from I Wish I Win who loomed on the outside, and then Tom Kitten between the pair.
The official margin was a half head to $9.50 betting sites chance Tom Kitten with a head back to I Wish I Win ($7.50) in third, while three-year-old Evaporate stuck on for fourth after racing wide, and Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers JD and Will, said the stable was lucky to have a horse like Mr Brightside.
“To see him win like that and just get in, it’s not good for the heart, but so proud of him,” Hayes said.
“It’s a long week but we’re just so passionate about this guy and we know he’s good enough and he’s shown it here and he’s the most important horse that we’ve ever been involved with.”
“He’s one of Lindsay Park and its whole history’s best horses so we’re so lucky to have him.”
With his ninth Group One win, Mr Brightside eclipsed Lindsay Park star Better Loosen Up for wins at the top level, and Will Hayes, who is the youngest of the training trio, said it was a very special result.
“I think that just sums up how special he is because Better Loosen Up was a big part of our upbringing and to have a horse that’s not only held in the same sentence but arguably just gone past him is pretty special,” Hayes said.
“We’ve had a lot of good horses in the Lindsay Park journey and to get him so early in our three careers is just something else.”
Craig Williams, who has been aboard Mr Brightside in 38 of his 42 starts, said his confidence never wavered in the horse despite being beaten first up by Another Wil in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m).
“Credit to him, he does all the running,” Williams said.
“The Hayes boys, Will, JD and Ben, and all the team behind, they present him to me on race days. I can have all these plans and ideas, but I have the confidence in the horse knowing [him] from all the way back to his third ever race start.”
“They have developed him into the horse he is now. He does make my job really easy, but I just know every time I ride him, I have so many options.”
The stable confirmed the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m), a race Mr Brightside won in 2023, would be the next target before he heads to Hong Kong for the Group 1 Champions Mile on April 27.
