Mr Brightside set for Autumn return to racing, trip to Hong Kong likely

One of Australia’s top gallopers might not be in the country for much longer.

The Lindsay Park training team of Ben, JD, and Will Hayes say that Mr Brightside could have just three Group 1 races in Australia left before he leaves to test himself in Hong Kong later this year.

2025 debut planned for February

After a blockbuster end to 2024, Mr Brightside was withdrawn from racing for the festive period. The seven year old has been stabled since November’s Group 1 Champions Mile, which he won by one and a half lengths.

That race was Mr Brightside’s second win of the 2024/25 racing season after also winning the Memsie Stakes seven weeks earlier.

Lindsay Park are hoping Mr Brightside can pick up where he left off in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on February 8. The gelding won this race last year following a similar two-month layoff.

Lindsay Park reveals plans

According to Ben Hayes, the CF Orr Stakes is one of three races the Lindsay Park team has planned for Mr Brightside in Australia this Autumn.

The Group 1 Futurity Stakes and Group 1 All Star Mile are also on the cards for the gelding.

After those races, Mr Brightside’s future is very much up in the air.

“He’s got three definite runs here and then we might consider going to Sydney to run in the George Ryder,” Ben Hayes explained.

“Then that would lead into Hong Kong, or we run the three runs here and go straight to Hong Kong.

“I think it’s the right time (to go to Hong Kong). He’s done everything he can here in Australia, he’s got nothing much to prove,” Hayes added.

Preparation underway

With Hong Kong in his future, we are sure to hear more about Mr Brightside potentially racing in the Group 1 Hong Kong Champions Mile on April 27. Before that though, the seven-year-old has to get through the rest of his Australian races.

Mr Brightside started his prep for his big Autumn plans in a 800m jump out at Werribee last Friday. The Group 1-winner finished third, ridden by Jaylah Kennedy.

According to Hayes, he saw exactly what he wanted to see from his star in that race.

“He was fantastic. For a first jump out, I thought it was very good for him.

“We had Jaylah Kennedy aboard and she rode it beautifully, just brought him to the middle of the track and his work through the line was great. (It’s) exactly what we’re looking for, so we’re thrilled with the way he’s going.”

“He looks a million dollars. He’s going to have one more jump out at Geelong and then he’s going to go first up into the Orr…If you go back and look at his first jump outs in other preps, this one was probably his best one he’s had.”