Amazing Brightside chase

Mr Brightside has won his fifth Group 1 after an incredible chase down at Caulfield on Saturday, giving the Hayes family their eighth C.F. Orr Stakes victory.

The superstar gelding jumped a $1.80 favourite but was a touch slow away, leaving Craig Williams to dig his mount up to fifth spot behind a hot tempo.

As expected, Buffalo River ($61) and Pride Of Jenni ($8.50) set a strong tempo, with Ayrton ($18) slotting right behind them and Veight ($6.50) a couple of lengths back.

Williams was scrubbing his mount along a long way out from home, but as is customary now, Mr Brightside picked up the bit and began to make stunning inroads in the straight.

Veight couldn’t quite reach the leaders, and it looked like an upset was on the cards, but the freakish six-year-old put in a few massive strides late to pip Pride Of Jenni right on the line.

WATCH: Mr Brightside’s amazing win in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield

JD Hayes said the win can be the start of a huge campaign for the son of Bullbars, who until Saturday had never won first-up in the autumn.

The stable has also been vindicated in their belief that Mr Brightside’s slightly underwhelming jumpouts were nothing to fret over as they build towards a probable Futurity Stakes, All Star Mile and Australian Cup path.

“He’s a great horse, he’s so dear to our hearts. It turned out he was slow away, but it worked out perfect with the pace on,” he said.

“Pride Of Jenni was so brave there, but I was glad that he got there late and so much improvement in him to come, hopefully it’s the start of a big Autumn.”

“He’s been beaten in the Autumn first-up every time so if history repeats, this is a first for him, and we’re very happy.

“He’s a seasoned campaigner now and there was nothing to read into the trials and jumpouts, we thought it was nothing for him just being an older horse.”

Williams said the horse was, as usual, a handful first-up, but was able to win through sheer determinations.

“Today was a bit of hard work, it was hard, usually when he starts off his preparation, he’s a little bit cheeky, a bit full of himself because he’s got improvement,” he said.

“Today he got to the start and reared and we were lucky enough to get from a nice barrier into a nice position, he raced well but then, wow, Jenni’s such a tough horse which we know.

“When we came under pressure and he wasn’t travelling I went, ‘oh wow … he’s still got more to come, there’s more improvement’, but he’s just got a great tenacity and will to win … I can’t wait to give him another pat now.

Mr Brightside’s total career prizemoney now sits at $11.9 million, to go alongside his record of 30:15-5-2.