A great result for Victoria and an even better one for the New Zealand thoroughbred industry as the Bullbars gelding Mr Brightside led home a 1-2-3 for New Zealand-breds in Saturday’s $3,000,000 Group 1 The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.
A first Group 1 for brothers Ben and JD Hayes, Mr Brighside did best under Craig Williams in a driving finish to defeat Shocking’s Group 1 MRC Toorak Handicap hero I'm Thunderstruck by a half length with a further long neck back to the enigmatic Sacred Falls mare Icebath in third.
The best previous stakes result for Mr Brightside came when culminating a six-start winning streak in the Listed Seymour Cup at Ballarat last October.
Purchased privately after making a luckless fifth at Matamata on debut in February last year, Mr Brightside advances his record to seven wins, a second and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $2,337,387.
“With all of the change we’ve had the past year with Dad (David Hayes) going to Hong Kong and Tom (Dabernig) leaving the partnership, to get a result like this with all of our team is just the biggest thrill,” Ben Hayes said.
“Brightside is a special horse to us. He was our first city winner and first stakes winner in Victoria and now he is our first Group 1 winner. He is a special, special horse.
“Wayne Ormond purchased him out of a race in New Zealand and offered him to us. We got a couple of our clients, he got a couple of his clients and he just kept improving.
“A lot of our owners did back us, there were a couple that left but hopefully they come back now. We’re hungry and we want to succeed and we’re getting it done.
“He won impressively so we’ll have a good talk about where we go next. Don’t make raceday decisions.”
“Ever since he ran fourth in the Cantala it’s been a long range plan which has just come into place beautifully and aided by a perfect ride.
“I want to give a shout out to Joe Molinaro, who is one of the owners, who can’t be here, unfortunately, he tested positive to COVID. He’ll be absolutely loving this and it is a great moment for everyone.
“Craig formed that relationship with Dad when they both came back from Hong Kong and he was stable jockey. He has had a lot of success for our family and it is great to continue with tradition.”
Purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) for $22,000 from the Phoenix Park draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka May Sale, Mr Brightside failed to find a buyer willing to pay his $50,000 reserve at the 2019 NZB Ready To Run Sale.
He is the best of two winners from 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).
Mr Brightside is the first Group 1 winner for the Group III winning Elusive Quality stallion Bullbars, a half-brother to Group 1 winners Epaulette and Helmet.
After beginning his career at Highview Stud, Bullbars stood the last two seasons at Orange Court in South Australia.
