Fourth in 2021, third in 2022 and second in 2023, the magnificent Mr Brightside raised the bat in the 2024 $3,000,000 Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Craig Williams for Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the 7-year-old son of Bullbars bounced out from his fourth-placed finish in the WS Cox Plate to overpower Antino (Redwood) by a long neck with Fangirl (Sebring) the same distance back in third.
With his eight Group 1, this bravest of all thoroughbreds advances his record to 18 wins, nine seconds, and three thirds from 40 starts with earnings of $16,393,402.
“I’m shaking. He’s such a special horse to us,” Ben Hayes said.
““He’s just been so consistent this preparation. Today, he just landed in a good spot. He flew the gates.
I was hoping he could get that gap, and he got it, and he was so strong through the line. Super effort. Well done to all at Lindsay Park, all the owners. He’s taken us on the most amazing ride, so I can’t believe it.
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uo;He’s never run a bad race for us. He’s an absolute gentleman. I’m just so proud and so happy for Craig and everyone involved. I’m fully shaking.
“We will (party). The Brightside owners love a good party, so it will be good fun.”
Craig Williams has been on Mr Brightside in all but two of his 39 starts.
Ever since he came over and had his second race start here in Australia and his third ever race start and I partnered up with him, we’ve had an amazing association.
“I was talking to Ben Hayes about when we started him off when he was going to Geelong maidens and going through all his grades, how they’ve developed this great horse,” Williams recalled.
“He’s had a great preparation. He won the Makybe Diva Stakes here. The Grand Final was the Cox Plate, he ran fourth but ran a phenomenal race. They’ve come here today for the Champions Mile, with all these horses, they’ve gone for blinkers for the first time and he was the right product today. So credit to all their team. And of course, Mr B, he’s got no BS in him and he’s just a real competitor. He did all the running and fighting today. Thanks buddy. ”
Sadly, the champion mare Pride Of Jenni bled from both nostrils, and owner Tony Ottobre said the daughter of Pride Of Dubai would be immediately retired.
A luckless fifth at his lone New Zealand start at Matamata, the son of Bullbars was sold privately to clients of the Hayes stable in a deal brokered by Australian agent Wayne Ormond.
Mr Brightside is the best of five winners from five to race for the unraced Tavistock mare Lilahjay.
Busuttin Racing / First Light Racing shelled out $70,000 for Lilahjay’s Darci Brahma filly named Lady Brightside at Karaka in 2023.
Lilahjay died after foaling a Satono Aladdin (JPN) colt in October.
