Mr Brightside has announced himself as a spring contender with a dogged first-up victory at Caulfield.
The Ben and J D Hayes-trained galloper took out the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on Saturday to land his first win in weight-for-age company.
Mr Brightside provided the Hayes brothers with their first Group 1 victory when successful in The Doncaster at Randwick and he may just provide them with a few more feature wins during the spring.
Sent out the $4 favourite under Craig Williams, Mr Brightside defeated I Am Superman ($5) by a half-neck with Buffalo River ($17) a neck away third.
“The horse is super special. For J D and I, he put us on the map,” Ben Hayes said.
“It was a beautiful ride by Craig and boy was he tough. He was right in for the fight.
“It’s really exciting going forward. He wasn’t wound up today, but he’s definitely announced himself.”
Pleasing for the Hayes brothers was the step Mr Brightside has made from the autumn of being a major handicap winner to winning first-up at weight-for-age company.
Hayes said his preferred option would be to target the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley in October rather than head to the Caulfield Cup (2400m) a week earlier.
He said no firm decision had been made in which direction Mr Brightside would head, but Hayes said he would like to see the gelding in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 3.
Success in that race provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Cox Plate.
“He showed he could mix it with them in the All-Star Mile, it was a very good run there and then he’s gone on and won the Doncaster,” Hayes said.
“To win here first-up, it’s something he hasn’t done for us before, and the way he stretched out, it was really exciting.
“It is going to be an interesting prep. I would love to see him out to 2000 metres as I think he will be better when he gets out past a mile.
“So, I think we will stick to our guns, go to the Feehan and give him a look at The Valley and that might give us an idea where to go after that.
“I think it is a big ask to go to 2400 metres without knowing, but I have to talk to everyone, no decision has been made.
“I think the 2000 metres is a good progression and then after that we can try him out in trip.”
