Mr Brightside may be coming off one of the lowest points in his remarkable career, but trainer Ben Hayes remains confident that the Lindsay Park star will reassert himself as a major player this Spring Carnival.
The eight-year-old gelding returned to public view on Monday morning, taking part in a course-proper jumpout at Flemington. He cruised through the 800m heat, finishing fourth, in preparation for his first-up tilt at the Memsie Stakes. Hayes expects the proven campaigner to show the form that saw him win the race in 2023 and finish second last year.
“He’s been his usual self to be honest and his build up has been very normal,” Hayes said.
“He’s probably got a slightly better coat to this time last year, just having been overseas and in a warmer climate.
“I’m not worried about him one bit. He’s done well, he’s eating, he’s sound and he looks fantastic, so we think he’s right on track.”
In Monday’s workout, Mr Brightside was allowed to gradually build through his gears, finishing about four lengths behind stablemate Evaporate, who was given a stronger hit-out.
Mr Brightside hasn’t raced since his last-place finish in the Group 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong on April 27. Before that run, the gelding had filled a top-two placing in 20 of his previous 23 starts, with the exceptions being a third in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a fourth in the Cox Plate, and a fifth in the Australian Cup.
Hayes believes a fresh approach played a part in his disappointing Hong Kong effort, but pointed to other elite gallopers like Doomben Cup winner Antino and Queen Anne Stakes victor Docklands as examples of horses who have rebounded strongly after struggling overseas.
“We took a fresh approach going into the run and he unfortunately didn’t perform,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Will and JD, said.
“But, you look at a horse like Docklands, who ran (near) last in Hong Kong and came out and won at Ascot and Antino also ran near last in Hong Kong and he came out and he’s won a Group 1.”
Mr Brightside will step out again at the Flemington jumpouts on August 15 ahead of his return to racing in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 30.
For those interested in betting on the Memsie Stakes, Mr Brightside’s return is sure to be one of the most anticipated storylines of the early spring.
