Lindsay Park had an early spring win of sorts on Friday morning with a pleasing jumpout performance from stable star Mr Brightside.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes reported the eight-year-old showed with the trial that he would be ready for a third attempt at the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) in two weeks after winning the race in 2023 and being narrowly beaten last year by Pinstriped.
“He was great,” Hayes enthused to RSN 927. “He had his second hit out this morning and he went 1000 metres with Craig Williams aboard.
“Craig gave him a really nice hit-out. He went to the line nicely and came back in had a good blow, so he’ll be ready in two weeks’ time for the Memsie.
“He (Williams) was very happy to be honest, He came back in, and he said he did everything right.
“The horses around him in the trial were a couple of rock-hard fit, mid-prep just having tick-over and good hitout and so we’ve got everything we wanted out of it.
“He looks like he’s come through it well. He’s had a very good blow and will take good improvement,”
Mr Brightside, who is the fourth highest prizemoney earner in Australasian history at $17.3 million, is the current $4 equal favourite with Antino for Victoria’s opening G1 of the season on August 30.
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