Mr Brightside is all set to defend his CF Orr Stakes title after a trial win at Geelong.
The star Lindsay Park-trained galloper impressed his trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes along with jockey Craig Williams when winning the second heat of the morning over 1000m on Wednesday.
It was Mr Brightside’s second trial ahead of his return in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.
While he has been associated in most of Mr Brightside’s big race victories, Williams is continually amazed at how the gelding returns each preparation.
“He was great, fabulous. He looks unreal,” Williams said.
8x G1 winner Mr Brightside commences his autumn preparations with a win in his trial at Geelong this morning 🔥 @lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/ifrSx1ZhqZ
— Racing.com (@Racing) January 28, 2025
“His attitude is excellent, his action is great, and he did what Ben, and the Hayes boys wanted him to do today.
“He can be a bit hit and miss in the gates, especially more so at the start of his preparation, or his first couple of runs, but I just loved his attitude in there today.
“His recovery tells me after his performance that he’ll make improvement from this morning, so it’s pretty exciting.”
Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside would kick off in the Orr Stakes, a race he defeated Pride Of Jenni in last year, before progressing to the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) two weeks later.
The Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) will be Mr Brightside’s third run for the campaign, after which a definitive answer will be given on whether the gelding heads to Hong Kong for the Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on April 26.
“His first three runs are almost set in stone – the Orr, the Futurity, the All-Star Mile,” Hayes said.
“It’s a recipe that has worked very well for us and once we get them done and he shows he’s in good form, we’ll go to Hong Kong for the mile race.
“We’ll just have to work out where to give him one more run before then, whether that’s here or up in Sydney, but he’s had all his inoculations, so if he’s in form, that’s where we will head.”
Mr Brightside continues to step up to the mark each preparation, returning each spring and autumn.
Hayes said even though Mr Brightside was a seven-year-old, he had not been overly raced, winning 18 of his 40 starts, in a career that basically began in his four-year-old year.
“He’s a lovely sound horse and we’re very comfortable going into his first-up run,” Hayes said.
“We think we’ve got him in a really good spot and is in as good form as he has been going into the Orr first-up.”