The Lindsay Park team’s international ambitions with Mr Brightside didn’t pan out as hoped in Hong Kong, but their focus now turns to the Warrnambool jumps carnival.
Mr Brightside finished at the tail of the field in Sunday’s Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin. Following the run, the stable shared an update via social media confirming the gelding had pulled up well.
“Mr B has pulled up well and is already home in his box getting stuck into his dinner,” they wrote.
“After today he will spend a couple of weeks in quarantine in Australia before travelling home to Euroa.”
The performance marked the worst result in Mr Brightside’s 44-start career, the majority of which has been under the Lindsay Park banner.
Next on the agenda is Warrnambool, where the Hayes brothers have seven runners engaged on Tuesday. Their main contender is Port Guillaume in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m).
Lindsay Park recorded three flat winners at last year’s carnival and are now aiming to secure a feature jumps win—something that has long been part of their tradition dating back to Colin Hayes’ days in Adelaide during the 1940s.
Ben Hayes confirmed that Port Guillaume was specifically aimed at the Brierly following discussions with jockey Tom Ryan, opting against a return to the Galleywood Hurdle, where he finished second last year.
Once seen as a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hopeful, Port Guillaume transitioned to jumps racing in 2022. He recently placed third in a Pakenham steeplechase on April 13.
“That was his first race (this time in), and he was still getting used to them,” Hayes said.
“His first couple, he didn’t jump them well, but his last couple were his best.
“We have schooled him since and he schooled a lot better, and he’s woken up and now knows what he is to be expecting.
“We had a good talk to Tom about him, and he said to stay with the steeples. His last few were his best jumps and it’s all a confidence thing with him.”