Mr Brightside ready for CF Orr Stakes 2025 assault

Mr Brightside is gearing up to defend his CF Orr Stakes crown following a strong trial performance at Geelong.

The standout galloper, trained by Lindsay Park’s Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, caught the attention of his team and jockey Craig Williams with a commanding win in the second heat over 1000m on Wednesday.

This marked Mr Brightside’s second trial as he prepares for his return in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in just over a week.

Williams, who has been aboard for many of Mr Brightside’s major victories, remains in awe of the gelding’s consistent form each preparation.

“He was fantastic, absolutely fabulous. He looks incredible,” Williams said.

“His attitude is spot on, his movement is excellent, and he executed exactly what Ben and the Hayes team wanted from him today.

“He can sometimes be a bit unpredictable in the barriers, especially early in his preparation or during his first few runs, but I was really impressed with his composure today.

“His recovery after the trial suggests he’ll improve from this outing, which is very exciting.”

Ben Hayes confirmed Mr Brightside will begin his campaign in the Orr Stakes, a race he won last year by defeating Pride Of Jenni, before targeting the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) two weeks later.

The Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) will serve as his third run for the preparation. After that, a decision will be made on whether the gelding heads to Hong Kong for the Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on April 26.

“His first three runs are pretty much locked in – the Orr, the Futurity, and the All-Star Mile,” Hayes said.

“This approach has worked well for us in the past, and if he’s performing strongly, we’ll aim for Hong Kong for the mile race.

“We’ll just need to figure out where to give him one more run before then, whether that’s here or in Sydney. He’s had all his vaccinations, so if he’s in good form, that’s the plan.”

Mr Brightside continues to deliver season after season, consistently performing at the highest level in both spring and autumn campaigns.

Hayes noted that despite being a seven-year-old, Mr Brightside hasn’t been over-raced, with 18 wins from 40 starts in a career that truly took off during his four-year-old season.

“He’s a sound and healthy horse, and we’re very confident heading into his first-up run,” Hayes said.

“We believe he’s in as good a shape as he’s ever been going into the Orr Stakes.”

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