Lindsay Park star Mr Brightside starts spring campaign in Flemington jumpout

News.com.au

a day ago

The rider was different but it was otherwise business as usual for nine-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside's return to the jumpouts at Flemington on Monday.
Mr Brightside last raced in an unsuccessful trip to Hong Kong in April but arrived at Flemington last week to step up his latest spring campaign for trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes.
Group 1-winning jockey Luke Currie stepped in for regular rider Craig Williams at Flemington.
Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside performed as usual despite not being asked for much in his first hitout in more than three months.
'He just cruised around and did what he normally does so we were happy with him,' Hayes said.
'Luke Currie rode him in the jumpout because Craig is overseas in the Ukraine at the moment and he gave us a good report.
'He said he felt great and did everything he was asked.'
The Hayes brothers will keep to their usual routine and give Mr Brightside a second jumpout before the gelding returns in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16.
Mr Brightside won the Lawrence Stakes in 2022 and 2023 before missing last year's race to tackle the Group 1 Memsie Stakes first-up.
'We've stuck to a method that has worked time after time with him,' Hayes said.
Mr Brightside (white jacket) had his first jumpout of the spring at Flemington on Monday.
Hayes said, while the Hong Kong trip failed to live up to expectations, Mr Brightside had benefited from his first taste of international competition.
He said the son of Bullbars was in the category of Cox Plate runner Docklands, who thrived after his trip to Australia to win a Group 1 race at Royal Ascot at his first start back in England.
'I think the trip to Hong Kong might have helped him even though it didn't pan out in the way we wanted,' Hayes said.
'He came back a better horse and it is often the case that horses can improve off travelling.
'Have a look at Docklands. He travelled out here and went back to England and performed really well over there.'
Unbeaten filly Scenic Point was another of the Lindsay Park team to step out at Monday's Flemington jumpouts, winning the first heat of the morning.
Hayes said Scenic Point would resume in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday week but the stable took the chance to give the three-year-old a look at the Flemington straight.
'She got a little bit lost down the straight but it was good to give her a look down the straight in case her spring preparation takes her that way in a race like the Coolmore,' Hayes said.
'We'll see what she does in her first run or two then decide whether she's going to be a Thousand Guineas filly or comes back to the Coolmore.
'It's great that the Thousand Guineas is back where it was (in October) as those fillies could again go on to the Oaks if they're shaping that way.'