He's a Freak - Mr Brightside Pulls it out of the Fire in Orr Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday February 10

Mr Brightside needed to call on all his champion qualities to snatch victory from the free-running Pride Of Jenni in the $750,000 Group 1 Sportsbet CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.

Mr Brightside down the outside (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Craig Williams for Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, the 6-year-old son of Bullbars enjoyed a trouble-free run but still had plenty to do as Pride Of Jenni was fighting off the challenge of the outsider Buffalo River (USA).

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Mr Brightside earned his fifth win at the highest level by a half-head from Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), chasing a third consecutive Group 1 win. Buffalo River (Noble Mission) was a head back in third.

With his ninth stakes success, Mr Brightside advanced his record to 15 wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 30 starts with earnings of $11,925,752.

“He’s a great horse; he’s so dear to our hearts,” JD Hayes said.

“He was slowly away, but it worked out perfectly with the pace on. Pride Of Jenni was so brave there, but I was glad that he got there late and that there was so much improvement in him to come. Hopefully, it’s the start of a big autumn.”

“He’s been beaten in the Autumn first up every time, so if history repeats, this is a first for him, and we’re very happy. He’s a seasoned campaigner now, and there was nothing to read into the trials and jump outs; we thought it was nothing for him just being an older horse.”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone back home and all the clients supporting us. It’s such a team effort, and a horse like Mr. Brightside is flying the flag gives us a reason to have a sore head in the morning.”

“It’s looking that way (the Futurity, All-Star Mile, Australian Cup), so hopefully, he keeps ticking the boxes. What a horse.”

The ever-growing fan club (image Grant Courtney)

Bred by Ray Johnson in partnership with his late wife Martha, Mr Brightside was sold as a yearling for $22,000 from the Phoenix Park draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale. He failed to meet his $50,000 reserve when re-offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

Johnson repurchased him on gavelhouse.com for just $7,750 in conjunction with Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning and good friend Shaun Dromgool.

 A luckless fifth at his lone New Zealand start at Matamata, the son of Bullbars was sold privately to clients of the Hayes stable in a deal brokered by Australian agent Wayne Ormond.

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Race Result - Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes Gr1 1400m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.27
1
Mr Brightside
- 6g Bullbars (AUS) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 59
2
0.1
Pride Of Jenni
- 6m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Sancerre (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Declan Bates 57
Pride Of Dubai
3
0.3
Buffalo River
- 8g Noble Mission (GB) x Fashion Insider (USA) (Indian Charlie (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Celine Gaudray 59
4
1.3
Veight
- 3c Grunt (NZ) x Neena Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Damian Lane 55.5
5
2.8
Ayrton
- 6g Iffraaj (GB) x Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 59
6
4.1
Pericles
- 4g Street Boss (USA) x Accessories (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: M Zahra 59
7
4.6
Munhamek
- 8g Dark Angel (IRE) x Cadenza (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: B Shinn 59
8
6.6
Atishu
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Dee 57
9
6.7
Bustler
- 4g Playing God (AUS) x Cosmah Domination (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: S Parnham 59
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