Ready to Run Sale 1-2 in Champions Mile

The build-up to the 2024 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka has been boosted by blockbuster graduate performances in Australia – a trend that continued with Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Antino (NZ) (Redwood) finishing first and second in Saturday’s A$3m Group One Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.

Ready to Run Sale graduates have won five Group One races in Australia this season. Mr Brightside has now won the Champions Mile as well as the Makybe Diva Stakes, while Antino took out the Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) won the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and King Charles III Stakes (1600m).

Mr Brightside was a $22,000 purchase by Phill Cataldo from Phoenix Park's 2019 Karaka May Sale draft, then failed to meet his $50,000 reserve when offered at the Ready to Run Sale later that year. He has gone on to become one of Australia’s pin-up racehorses, winning 18 of his 40 starts and more than A$16m. Saturday’s Champions Mile was his eighth Group One win.

Runner-up Antino is putting together an impressive record in his own right, with 22 starts for 11 wins, six placings and A$2.2m in stakes. He won last month’s Toorak at Caulfield by six and a half lengths. Antino was bought for $27,000 from the 2020 Ready to Run Sale.

Saturday’s Champions Mile developed into a thrilling finish, with Mr Brightside and Antino launching powerful come-from-behind bids on opposite sides of the racetrack. Mr Brightside burst through the pack close to the rail, while Antino charged home out wide next to Fangirl (Sebring) and Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard). In a desperate scramble to the finish, Mr Brightside pulled ahead of those rivals and won by half a length.

“It's quite emotional to be honest,” said Will Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Ben and JD. “He really is our flagbearer. We owe this horse everything. He started our momentum as a stable and really generated a lot of hype for us and the way he’s raced today, it was heart-in-your-mouth stuff. We took a risk and put the blinkers on, back in trip, it was suitable and Craig (Williams) rode him terrifically. We just needed the split and when he took it, he did what champions do and savaged the line.

“The old man in Hong Kong (David Hayes) suggested the blinkers, but it’s a team effort and Mr Brightside represents our team so well. It’s such a credit to all our staff across all our locations and to get the win today is just absolutely something special and really something to hang a hat on for the spring.”

Regular rider Craig Williams is one of Mr Brightside’s biggest fans.

”It’s one of those ‘pinch yourself’ moments to be a part of this horse,” he said. “I’ve been with him since the third start of his career, and it’s been an amazing journey with him.

“Credit has to go to Ben, Will and JD Hayes for the way they’ve developed him. They built his confidence, he got stronger and he got better. He believed in himself and now he’s this type of horse. So full credit has to go to those boys, but also to Mr Brightside, who just loves to win.

“It’s great for him to get another Group One this preparation, because they’re not easy. So it just gives me nothing but another great thrill.

“I saw Antino out wide there today, and he’s a good horse. My only concern was whether he was going to be able to see the competition. But he had nothing else in his mind other than ‘I’m going as fast as I can to that winning post.’ He’s decelerating a lot slower than all those other top horses, which is so remarkable at his age.

“He’s the horse that I’ve won the most races on in my career. I’ve been really lucky to have horses like him. You know, they line up every day, we demand and ask them to be the best horse they can be against the best opposition and luckily for me, they are usually. I’m very, very grateful and lucky.”

The 2024 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on 20 & 21 November, with selling starting at 11am (NZT) each day.