Latest News

By Ray Hickson

History says Mr Brightside’s task to achieve back-to-back wins in the Group 1 $4m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) is going to be tough but it’s far from unattainable.

Ben Hayes (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Mr Brightside is aiming to be the 10th horse to claim a second Doncaster Mile and the eighth to defend a title, the last being Sacred Falls in 2013 and 2014.

And co-trainer Ben Hayes is adamant the five-year-old is a better horse in 2023 and entitled to favouritism for the feature Randwick mile on the back of an autumn campaign that’s gone to script and sees him arrive at the race fourth-up from a spell as he did a year ago.

“He’s a much more seasoned horse this time in,’’ Hayes said.

“He’s been very competitive at weight-for-age and he won the All Star Mile. I couldn’t be happier with him. He’s bouncing, his final piece of work on Monday was great.

“We’re following a similar path to when he won last year so hopefully he can do it again. I do think he’s improved enough to be the favourite for the race.”

The form out of his win in the All Star Mile was strengthened with runner-up Cascadian winning the Australian Cup last weekend.

He brings a phenomenal 1600m record into the race with eight wins from 12 attempts though Hayes concedes five of them were when coming through the grades in the spring of 2021.

“We haven’t tried him beyond a mile too many times,’’ he said.

“He did go through the grades over a mile, he won a 64, a 70 and 78 all over the mile. He’s very sharp, he’s got a good turn of foot and I think over a mile that’s where you see the best of him.

“It’s still a drop in weight from 59kg to 55.5kg and I know the rest of the field are light as well but he’s strengthened a lot and put on more muscle and he keeps improving.”

The gelding is a special horse for Ben & JD Hayes - he was not only their first city winner as a partnership but the first Group winner and first Group 1 winner.

He won the race last year from barrier 18 with 50.5kg on his back, it’s a different scenario on Saturday as he’ll carry 5kg more and jumps from gate two.

In an ideal world Mr Brightside would get a similar run to that which took him to victory at Moonee Valley and he presents another opportunity for Zac Purton to notch another Group 1 win at Randwick after a double on Randwick Guineas Day.

“I think an inside draw is good for him. Zac will be able to help him out of the gates and hopefully land in a similar position to what he did in the All Star Mile,’’ Hayes said.

“I’d like to think midfield or maybe forward of midfield holding a position. If he can camp and not do too much work, save his sprint, and have a little bit of luck he’ll be right there.

“He’s fourth-up and ready to peak and generally I find this guy only improves deeper into his prep.”

While most attention is on Mr Brightside, Ben and JD Hayes also saddle up Gentleman Roy in the race and he’s the beneficiary of a significant weight drop on his midfield finish in the All Star Mile.

He drops 7kg and he did finish in front of his stablemate in the Group 1 Orr Stakes, where he lost the race in the stewards room. The six-year-old was $19 with TAB on Thursday while Mr Brightside holds top spot at $5.

Mr Brightside WINS the All-Star Mile!! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/WB9IFrnFgQ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 18, 2023

“In his last two runs he had a couple of niggling feet issues going into them, just jarring up on the firm surfaces,’’ Hayes said.

“This time he’s very sound, he came through the All Star Mile in great order and with 52kg he’ll be able to roll across.

“He doesn’t have to lead, people think he is a mad leader, he can be on the pace as long as the race is run at a genuine tempo.

“If they are going slow he will lead but if it’s genuine we’ll just ride him where he’s comfortable. He doesn’t mind a bit of give in the track and he can finish in the first half of the field.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 1 of The Star Championships at Randwick