Share in top racehorse up for sale at online auction

Off the back of a strong 2023/24 racing season, Lindsay Park stable star Mr Brightside has been put up for sale. The thoroughbred’s owners have put an 8% stake in the Mr Brightside up for sale at the Inglis Digital online auction ending this Wednesday.  

Mr Brightside strong season reaping rewards 

Not many horses in Australia and New Zealand had a better year than Ben, Will and JD Hayes’ Mr. Brightside. The six-year-old gelding was consistently among the top three in some of the season’s biggest races.  
 
Mr. Brightside won five of his 11 starts this season, earning over $5.2 million in prize money along the way. He finished second four times and third once, meaning the Lindsay Park star failed to place just once this season.  
 
The rising star was particularly dominant in this February’s Group 1 races. Mr. Brightside won the Group 1 Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes (1400m) just two weeks apart at Caulfield in February. 

“Change in circumstances” behind sale 

Many horse racing betting fans were surprised to see Mr. Brightside’s name in the Inglis Digital online auction catalogue this week. Co-trainer Ben Hayes spoke to the media this week to explain the surprise partial sale.  
 
“It's just an owner that's had their circumstances change,” Hayes said, “That's all it is. 
 
“He's going to be running in all the big races (next season). That's the plan anyway. He's very sound. 
 
“I think (his) last preparation he picked up five million dollars. It's an opportunity, it will be interesting what it goes for.” 
 
An 8% stake in Mr. Brightside last season would have earned the owner over $900,000. However, it’s unlikely the stake nets nearly that much in this week’s auction.  
 
As of Saturday, the top bid for the 8% stake in Mr. Brightside is $100,000. 

Looking ahead for Mr. Brightside 

At 6-years-old, Mr. Brightside is approaching the final stretch of his career. Looking at his plans for next season, it’s clear that Mr. Brightside’s owners and trainers are hoping to make the most of whatever the star has left.  
 
Mr. Brightside is one of the early betting sites contenders for the upcoming Spring Carnival opener, the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.  
 
He is also expected to compete for the $5 million Cox Plate and All-Star Mile, a race he won in 2023.