Tulloch Lodge trainer Adrian Bott has been keeping a close eye on Mr Brightside’s spring form, hoping it is a positive sign for his own stable star, Royal Patronage.
Both Royal Patronage and Mr Brightside contested Hong Kong’s Champions Mile (1600m) in April, but neither performed to expectations and finished well down the order.
Since returning to Australia, Mr Brightside has shown no lingering effects, running second to Treasurethe Moment first-up in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) before claiming the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last weekend.
Bott is hopeful Royal Patronage can produce a similar rebound when he resumes at Randwick this Saturday.
“Things didn’t work out for him in Hong Kong but he’s had a good break off the back of that,” Bott said.
“He is first-up here and Mr Brightside has shown you can bounce back off those international preps.
“He seems in good shape and he is coming up well.”
Royal Patronage holds entries for the 7 Stakes (1600m) and the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), but Bott confirmed he will target the 7 Stakes given the big weight, wide gate and his position as third emergency in the shorter contest.
While acknowledging the mile first-up is a fresh challenge, Bott noted the gelding does boast strong fresh form, including a runner-up finish in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) over the same course.
“The mile first-up is new territory for him,” Bott said.
“He’s a horse that performs really well first-up and does well fresh but that’s been over 1400 and 1300.
“The mile seems to be his ideal distance though, so I think he can be effective in that regard and he’s had a good grounding to get here.”
The 7 Stakes has drawn a field of 11, featuring defending champion Fangirl, dual Group 1 winner Ceolwulf and Maher-trained pair Light Infantry Man and Gringotts.
Bott confirmed Royal Patronage is being aimed towards the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Everest day.
Punters eager to back Royal Patronage in the 7 Stakes can find the latest odds at Australia’s leading betting sites.
