Lindsay Park racing team talks up Mr. Brightside’s ahead of Cox Plate

The Lindsay Park team of Ben, J.D. and Will Hayes say Mr. Brightside is on the right track for a strong run in Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse on 26 October. The seven-year-old gelding has placed in all three of his starts this horse racing season so far.

Mr. Brightside will race at Caulfield in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes on Saturday as the final start of his Cox Plate preparations.

Strong start for Mr. Brightside

Mr. Brightside has started the 2024/25 horse racing season in great form.

The gelding finished second in his first start of the season in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. He finished just half-a-length behind fellow top sprinter Pinstriped.

After that, Mr. Brightside finished half-a-length ahead of Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

Pride Of Jenni got the better of him in Mr. Brightside’s most recent race though. The 2023/24 Australian Racehorse of the Year Award winner beat Mr. Brightside by 1.5 lengths in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley.

While there are some disappointing near losses there, Mr. Brightside is one of the most in-form horses in Australia right now.

‘95% there

Mr. Brigthside will continue his preparation for the Cox Plate in the Might and Power Stakes at Caulfield. According to his trainers Ben, J.D. and Will Hayes, the gelding is 95% ready for the Cox Plate. This race could be the one that gets him up to 100%.

“It’s taken a while for his coat to come out and as you can see here today, his coat is probably 95 per cent there,” Ben Hayes said.

“But he’s in great order. He’s lovely and sound and I think this (the Might and Power Stakes) is his best opportunity to win a Group 1 over 2000 metres.

“The other five per cent comes between now and Cox Plate Day and that’s the idea is having him peak Cox Plate Day,” Hayes explained.

Cox Plate redemption

The betting sites currently give Mr. Brightside $9 chances of winning the Cox Plate. That puts him as fifth favourite, behind Prognosis ($4.50), Broadsiding ($5), Via Sistina ($5.50), and Pride Of Jenni ($6).
 
Ben Hayes hopes his horse can defy the odds and come out on top. He says all of Lindsay Park as redemption on their mind after previous disappointments.

A good run at the Might and Power Stakes will be key to getting that redemption at Moonee Valley, says Hayes.

“I think for the whole team and the ownership group, we’d love to have one more crack at redemption for the Cox Plate, and we felt this was the best path for him,” he said.

“He had a nice run over a mile, running second behind Jenni, which ensured a good, strong, hard run mile last time and he’s come through that great. I think a good run at 2000 (metres) will hopefully see us peaking.”