Dunlop Looking on the Brightside

Media Release - Sunday April 3

Phoenix Park principal Janine Dunlop is hoping the second day of The Championships at Royal Randwick this weekend can provide even greater celebrations than those she had after day one on Saturday.

Dunlop is a part-owner of Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) aspirant The Chosen One and will make her way to Sydney this week to be on course to watch the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained entire make his bid for the Group One title.

Mr Brightside wins the G1 Doncaster  - image Steve Hart.

She was however left beaming with pride in the performance of kiwi-bred galloper Mr Brightside on the first day of the prestigious Randwick two-day carnival after the Ben and JD Hayes-trained four-year-old strode to victory in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Dunlop was heavily involved in the early development of the son of former Highview Stud stallion Bullbars, after breeder Ray Johnson asked her to prepare him for the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in January 2019.

“I have had horses for Ray over a number of years and he asked me to get this one ready for the January sale at Karaka when he was a weanling,” Dunlop said.

“He just didn’t quite come up for that sale and I said to Ray he didn’t really fit the bill, so we might be better to pop him in the yearling section at the May sale instead.

“Phill Cataldo bought him for the late Laurie Laxon from the sale for what I considered to be a real bargain at $22,000 with the idea that he might be a great pinhook for the Ready To Run sale later in the year.

“I prepared him for that sale and unfortunately, he was a little bit naughty during the prep and he slipped under people’s guard again and was passed in.

“Laurie then had him put into work but the recommendation was that he should probably look to sell him on gavelhouse.com, which he did.

“I am good friends with Sabin Kirkland, who trains down in the deep south and I told him he should buy the horse but he decided against it, so I have had plenty of fun giving him a hard time about what he missed out on.

“As it turned out Ray bought him back and put him with Ralph Manning and they sold him after his first race at Matamata and the story has just got better and better from there.”

Dunlop has always had faith in the horse, right from the day she first saw him.

 Janine Dunlop Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

“He is just such a neat horse, a real good looker with plenty of natural muscle and so athletic,” she said.

Advertisement

“His biggest downfall was that he had his own special quirks and characteristics and could be quite naughty, but I know Ralph put plenty of hours into him and the Hayes boys have continued that and they now have a star on their hands.

“I just thrilled for everyone involved and also for the boost this will give both the May sale and gavelhouse.com.

“We’ve always thought the Doncaster Mile was the toughest mile in Australia and I don’t think it was a coincidence that the first three home were kiwi-bred as our horses continue to excel at the highest level.”

While Dunlop was thrilled with the result, she was also celebrating her own piece of success on Saturday as a part-owner of Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) winner Amalfi Prince.

“I took a share in the syndicate that Te Akau Racing put together for Amalfi Prince and he was just so brave on Saturday with that win,” she said.

“I actually nearly missed the race and just managed to get in front of the television when they jumped, so it was the start of quite a magical day really.”

Dunlop will be hoping the good fortune continues with The Chosen One this Saturday although she has had to overcome some obstacles to ensure she is on-course to cheer him on.

“I’ve Just got off the phone with Ray Dennis (part-owner and breeder) who is sorting out my accommodation in Sydney for me,” Dunlop said.

“I couldn’t book it myself as my credit card was stolen recently which makes it very difficult when you are trying to travel.

“It’s been a real kerfuffle and I’m just so grateful Ray has been able to help as I can’t say how much I’m looking forward to being on track at Randwick with the syndicate who own The Chosen One and making a very special day of it after all the restrictions we have had in the last two years.

“It is going to be a fantastic day of racing and if we could top it off with a win then it will be quite magical.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Shamus Award Mare Chasing Another G1
Adverse weather has forced multiple Group One winner Quintessa to take an unorthodox route to next Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), with the mare appearing at the Awapuni trials on Monday afternoon.
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Aussie Bred Asfoora Wins Third G1 on Arc Day in France
Victorians breeders celebrated overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora returning to her dazzling best on one of the world’s biggest stages to win the Group I Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m) with a scintillating performance on Arc Day in France.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred War Machine Secures Everest Slot
The NZB Ready to Run Sale is never short of graduates flying the flag on Group One stages in Australia. With the 2025 edition at Karaka now less than six weeks away, War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) has put his hand up to continue that trend this spring.
Aga Khan Homebred 3YO Colt - 2025 Arc de Triomphe Winner
The Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) was run overnight at Longchamp and one of the world’s great races produced a thriller with blueblood €1.85 millionsale-topping Frankel filly Minnie Hauk going down by a head to the Aga Khan homebred Sea the Stars colt Daryz.