Mr Brightside stakes spring claims

It didn’t take Mr Brightside long this season to prove he is weight-for-age worthy after showing all the right traits in scoring a determined win in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

A winner of the G1 Doncaster Handicap at his most recent run in April, Mr Brightside faced a jump this spring to weight-for-age class, but he quickly dismissed any doubts when he chased hard and then fought strongly to score in the $300,000 race.

Buffalo River ($17) booted clear on the home turn to establish a handy break, but jockey Craig Williams produced Mr Brightside ($4 fav) at the right time and he chased hard to run down the leader, while also holding off the fast-finishing I Am Superman ($5) to score.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes said the win came as something of a relief as he knew the horse was not quite ‘wound up’ and had to prove himself this spring as a weight-for-age horse.

“And he’s done it (won at weight-for-age) first-up, which is really exciting,” said Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brother JD.

Williams said he was thrilled with the way Mr Brightside adapted to weight-for-age racing so quickly.

“Because he won a handicap at the top level, weight-for-age is a completely different scenario and even today it’s not the deepest end of where he’s going to be competing against these other horses later,” he said.

“But you just see that maturity and that improvement.

“He’s going to be improved from that race and we were really happy with the horse’s maturity.

“I Am Superman upset him in the gates by kicking out and he got a little upset in the gates but he’s a much better and mentally stronger horse this prep than when we saw him last time.”

The Lindsay Park stable is keen to keep Mr Brightside on former stable star Better Loosen Up’s 1990 spring path, meaning he will run next in the G2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 3 before a decision looms between a Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate tilt.

Hayes said no decision has been made but he favours the Cox Plate, especially if Mr Brightside can win the Feehan and prove his worthiness at The Valley.

“There’s also a $1 million bonus for the Feehan winner into the Cox Plate to consider,” Hayes said.

“For me, I think it’s a big ask to go to 2400 (metres) without knowing. No decision has been made but I think 2000 is a good progression and we could try it (2400m) after that.”