Mr Brightside stamps his Cox Plate ticket
Ben and JD Hayes have compared him to the great Better Loosen Up, and that comparison is looking more and more accurate after Mr Brightside’s dominant 4.5 length victory in the Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley.
It was all too easy as this year’s Doncaster Mile winner found himself 2.5 lengths in front at the 150m mark in the Group 2 feature over a mile.
And the sky is now the limit for the star five-year-old gelding, who now looks a very competitive prospect for the Cox Plate on October 22.
2022 Feehan Stakes Replay
Better Loosen Up – trained by Ben and JD Hayes’ father David during his prime from five to seven – won the Feehan Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate, Mackinnon Stakes, Japan Cup, Blamey Stakes and Australian Cup – stunningly in succession.
All in the same distinctive white, black and green colours.
Mr Brightside can now emulate the late, great Better Loosen Up – who lived to the age of 30 – in the Cox Plate in seven weeks’ time.
Winning jockey Craig Williams – himself a Cox Plate victor – has no doubt Mr Brightside can also win the $5 million event over 2040m.
“Yeah absolutely. He’s doing everything they want, but I’m not going to tell them where to run him,” he told Racing.com.
“They’ve got a couple of options and they are lovely options to have. I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
It was only on July 21 last year when Mr Brightside won a maiden for the Hayes brothers at Geelong, going through the grades superbly since then.
“He’s been such a special horse for everyone at Lindsay Park, Ben and I. He’s come at the right time,” JD Hayes said.
“That was such a perfect ride, and it just fell into place and he showed his nice turn of foot.
“Thankfully it played out the way it looked on paper.”
Ben Hayes said Saturday’s performance from Mr Brightside was even better than his half-length triumph in the Doncaster at Randwick on April 2.
“That’s his best win to date. He’s only improving with every run,” he said.
“Through his prep he gets better and better. Again, he put his hand up to be very competitive in the Cox Plate.”