Although some of the greats of Australian racing have graced the stables of Lindsay Park, the prodigiously talented Mr Brightside can elicit a lump in the throat of the Hayes clan.
The dual Doncaster Mile winner defended his title in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) in such dominating fashion there is an array of WFA races on his agenda this spring.
With a supremely confident Craig Williams in the saddle, the 6yo son of Bullbars was geared down to defeat the 5yo Street boss (USA) gelding Pinstriped by one and three-quarter lengths with the Sacred Falls gelding Aegon a nose back in third.
In becoming the first back to back winner of the race since Tauto in 1971-72, Mr Brightside ran the 1400m in 1.21.71s to smash the class record and go within 0.51s of Exceed And Excel’s 2003 track record.
Trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Mr Brightside advances his record to twelve wins, two seconds, and two thirds with earnings of $8,423,677.
‘’He’s just gone to another level, which is quite scary,’’ Williams said.
‘’He’s just really showing how good he is. Mentally, he is a lot more professional.
‘’Wherever they decide to go with him, I want to be on his back.’’
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside was likely to go to the Group 1 Memsie Stakes in two weeks before stepping to the 1600-metres of the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 16.
Purchased privately after a luckless fifth at Matamata on debut, Mr Brightside was a $22,000 purchase for Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) from the Phoenix Park draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka May Sale. He failed to find a buyer willing to pay his $50,000 reserve when reoffered at the 2019 NZB Ready To Run Sale.
The son of Bullbars is the best of four winners from as many to race for the Tavistock mare Lilahjay whose dam Keepable (Keeper) is a half-sister to Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas and Group 1 WRC Captain Cook Stakes winner Foxwood (Centaine) and Group III AJC Frank Packer Plate winner Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar).
