Mr Brightside has left an undeniable mark on the careers of Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, and this weekend, he has an opportunity to carve out a new legacy for Lindsay Park at Caulfield.
The talented seven-year-old, sired by Bullbars, is set to chase his ninth Group 1 title as he makes his seasonal return in the $750,000 C F Orr Stakes (1400m). A victory in this race would cement him as the most accomplished elite-level competitor in the 77-year history of the stable founded by Colin Hayes.
Currently, that distinction belongs to Better Loosen Up, who secured eight Group 1 victories, including a Cox Plate and Japan Cup under the guidance of David Hayes. While JD Hayes acknowledges the remarkable achievements of Better Loosen Up, he believes Mr Brightside’s sustained excellence makes him just as impressive.
“With ‘BLU’, we all talk about him because he was such a champion, but he was only around for two seasons and able to achieve what he did for my old man,” Hayes said.
“Mr Brightside is gearing up for his fourth (season) here, so he’s been around for a long time.
“The comparisons were drawn early, but I think they are warranted.”
Since its inception in 1925, only four horses have won the C F Orr Stakes multiple times, with Typhoon Tracy (2010/11) being the only one to do so since the race attained Group 1 status in 1993. Others on that prestigious list include Lord (1959/60), Manikato (1979-81), and Vo Rogue (1988-90).
With career earnings approaching $16.4 million, Mr Brightside has built an impressive résumé, claiming the Doncaster Mile and Makybe Diva Stakes twice each, along with victories in the Memsie Stakes, Futurity Stakes, and last year’s Champions Mile, which was his most recent start.
He also claimed the All-Star Mile in 2023 before it was granted Group 1 status, and he is once again targeting the 1600m event at Flemington on March 8.
Before that, Mr Brightside will take part in the Futurity Stakes on February 22, a 1400m Group 1 weight-for-age contest at Caulfield worth $750,000. It’s a race he won last year, and his connections are confident in his preparation.
“He’ll follow the same path that he has for the last three years and he just looks tremendous, he’s absolutely glowing in the coat,” Hayes said at Thursday’s Festival of Racing launch, held at the Hayes family’s Flemington stable.
“He’s going as good as ever, he’s ticked every box that we’ve thrown at him and that usually culminates in a consistent performance, so hopefully that’s what we’ll get on Saturday.”
For the Orr Stakes, Mr Brightside has drawn barrier eight in a field of ten, with Craig Williams set to take the ride as he returns to the saddle after missing over a week due to illness.
