Kiwi Heavyweight Mr Brightside Claims a Ninth G1 Victory

Media Release - Saturday February 22

Champion galloper Mr Brightside notched his ninth Group One victory when winning the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes under a positive Craig Williams ride.

Champion Galloper Mr Brightside secures his ninth group one win in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield for Team Hayes and Jockey Craig Williams - image Grant Courtney

The son of Bullbars displayed all his fighting qualities as he made it back-to-back Futurity Stakes, defying his widest draw and a strong head-wind as he raced outside the leader Private Life, with that rival trailing the field home.

Advertisement

Mr Brightside scored by the barest of margins as Tom Kitten swooped late, while I Wish I Win turned in a strong performance for third fresh-up.

“To see him win like that and just get in, it's not good for the heart, but we’re so proud of him,” Ben Hayes said.

“It's a long week but we're just so passionate about this guy and we know he's good enough and he's shown it here and he's the most important horse that we've ever been involved with.

“For him to continue and keep winning - that's his ninth Group One victory - and he's also won an All-Star Mile and that's a Group One now so you could technically say 10.”

Mr Brightside has now surpassed Better Loosen Up as the most successful Group One winner produced by Lindsay Park and is nearing on A$17 million in prizemoney.

That tally can be added to as he heads to the A$2.5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 8.

“He'll improve a lot from today and all he needs is a nice barrier,” Hayes said.

“He's due one, he's drawn wide both runs this prep. If he gets a soft run where he doesn't have to roll forward and lead, he's a much better chaser and he’ll be right in it.”

Mr Brightside and his nearest and dearest - image Grant Courtney

The Gr.1 Hong Kong Champions Mile (1600m) on April 27 is also a longer range target for the venerable seven-year-old.

Mr Brightside was bred by Ray Johnson in partnership with his late wife Martha. He was sold as a yearling for $22,000 via Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale, where he was bought by Phill Cataldo. He then failed to meet his $50,000 reserve when re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale.

An opportunity later arose for Johnson to buy him back on gavelhouse.com for just $7,750, in conjunction with Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning and good friend Shaun Dromgool.

Mr Brightside finished a luckless fifth in his sole New Zealand start at Matamata for Manning, having previously won a trial. He was subsequently sold privately to clients of the Hayes stable via Australian agent Wayne Ormond. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes Gr1 1400m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.55
1
Mr Brightside
- 7g Bullbars (AUS) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 59
NZB Karaka May Sale $22,000
Seller: Phoenix Park
Buyer: Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ)
2
0.1
Tom Kitten
- 4g Harry Angel (IRE) x Transfers (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Melham 59
3
0.3
I Wish I Win
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Jamie Melham 59
4
1.8
Evaporate
- 3g Per Incanto (USA) x Savanna (NZ) (Animal Kingdom (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 55.5
5
2.3
Freedom Rally
- 5g Rubick (AUS) x Ipioga (AUS) (Niello (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Jye McNeil 59
6
2.5
Light Infantry Man
- 6g Fast Company (IRE) x Lights On Me (GB) (Kyllachy (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ethan Brown 59
7
2.5
Pinstriped
- 6g Street Boss (USA) x Snitzel Blitz (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: E Jusufovic Rdr: Ben Allen 59
8
3
Pericles
- 5g Street Boss (USA) x Accessories (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Shinn 59
9
6.5
Super Smink
- 4m Super One (AUS) x Sminky Shorts (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: W Egan 57
10
9
Private Life
- 3c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Aliyana Tilde (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 55.5
More Reading...
First Winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s Champion 3YO Miler Palace Pier(GB) was a one term shuttler to Australia for Darley in 2022 and that crop will race next season, but in the meantime he had his first Northern Hemisphere winner overnight at Haydock.
Kiwi Bred Mr Brightside on Target for Cox Plate
Lindsay Park were runner-up in last year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) with Mr Brightside, and they are hoping they can go one better in this year’s edition where they will be represented once more by the Kiwi-bred, as well as his compatriot Evaporate.
Mr Brightside Defends his Crown in Makybe Diva Stakes
Shortly after Melbourne unleased hail and blinding rain, the great foes Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni went toe to toe down the Flemington straight under brilliant sunshine in the $750,000 Group 1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Investing in Fillies Can Pay Big Dividends
We saw it earlier this month at Inglis Chairman’s Sale and we saw it again this week, purchasing yearling fillies that can perform to a high level has the potential to yield a big pay day in the sale ring, so let’s take a closer look.
Expensive Ghaiyyath Colt Wins Stakes
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) had his first Australian winner earlier this week and overnight produced a new stakes-winner in the UK where Godolphin owned colt Opera Ballo won the Listed Heron Stakes (1m)at Sandown.
One to Watch – Bendigo
A flashy chestnut filly with a bit of the Apache Cat’s about her was an eye-catching five length debut winner at Bendigo on Friday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.
Mr Brightside NZTBA Horse of the Year
The Seton Otway Horse of the Year went the way of star galloper Mr Brightside at Saturday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were six heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Friday and some interesting unraced winners including a $1.45million colt by Extreme Choice and a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly bred to win an Oaks..
Emotional Win for Mr Brightside in G1 Champions Mile - Pride of Jenni Retired
Fourth in 2021, third in 2022 and second in 2023, the magnificent Mr Brightside raised the bat in the 2024 $3,000,000 Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.