Hayes likes what he sees in Mr Brightside's trial
Mr Brightside’s (NZ) (Bullbars) co-trainer Ben Hayes predicted the returning veteran would present as a winning chance in his comeback race in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) in a fortnight after turning in a sharp trial at Caulfield on Saturday morning.
Mr Brightside, who has not run at all this year due to a fetlock issue, finished second in a special 1000-metre trial held before the opening race on P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day to confirm his return date of August 29.
“Very happy,” Hayes said after the import Yellow Jersey nosed Mr Brightside out in the six-horse trial.
“He missed the autumn, so today he was here to have a nice hitout. He flew the gates, got to the front and had his ears pricked for a bit and went to the line quite nicely. He got caught on the line, but it was a trial.
“The most important thing is he acted as he always does when he goes to the races.
“He was super quiet in the parade and had a good healthy blow there and still has to clean up a bit in the coat but that is what he always looks like when he has his first couple of runs and then his coat really comes on.”
Mr Brightside was caught on the line by the former French horse Yellow Jersey, while Giga Kick finished on strongly to finish third ahead of Tom Kitten.
