After much consideration, Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes decided to bypass an exhibition gallop at Sandown with Mr Brightside in favour of a trial in rural Victoria.
Mr Brightside trials in opening heat over 1000m on at Benalla Monday, three days after the Benalla Cup meeting was staged on Friday.
The Hayes brothers have done their due diligence on the track, sending Will on a 40-minute trip up the Hume Freeway to inspect the track ahead of Monday’s hit out.
Mr Brightside returned to Lindsay Park’s stable at Euroa after his win in the Makybe Diva Stakes and is being prepared for the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 14.
“We spoke to the track manager. They’re going to put some water on the track, have it around a Good 4 or a Soft 5,” Ben Hayes said.
“We thought a jump-out over 1000 metres, to keep his fitness up to the mark, he would get more benefit than working at Sandown.
“We had a big chat, Will and J D and I, and we’re very happy. We think that is the right move.
“He’s been up at the farm since his last win, and we were thinking about it. It’s a five hour round trip to do a gallop at Sandown whereas Benalla is 40 minutes away.”
Hayes said he had noticed improvement in Mr Brightside’s condition since his last win at Flemington on September 16.
After Monday’s trial, Mr Brightside will return to Euroa and have some light work ahead of his final gallop at ‘the farm’ on Monday week before being floated to Sydney that night.
“We’ll do what we’ve done in the past heading to the Doncaster,” Hayes said.
“He’ll have a couple of easy days and then he’ll do some 14’s on Thursday and hopefully that will have him spot on.
“It’s a recipe that has worked and hopefully it can work again.”
Hayes said following the King Charles, Mr Brightwide would return for the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28.
“He’ll be fourth up in the King Charles and hopefully he can peak again after that,” Hayes said.
Regular jockey Craig Williamson will make the journey to Benalla to ride Mr Brightside in the trial.
