Mr Brightside lands in Hong Kong

[Wandering Eyes]

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has conquered all before him over a mile in Australia and the star Kiwi-bred galloper has touched down in Hong Kong this week in pursuit of next Sunday’s Gr.1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).

A winner of 19 races, including nine at Group One level, Mr Brightside has been his ultra-consistent self throughout the current racing season, with victories in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), Gr.1 Champion’s Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).

When he wasn’t winning, the gelding was often runner-up, finishing second in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m), Gr.1 Might and Power (2000m), Gr.1 C.F Orr Stakes (1400m) and most recently, the Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m).

The journey to Hong Kong was Mr Brightside’s first flight since heading to Australia from his homeland as a three-year-old, and his co-trainer Ben Hayes couldn’t have been happier with his condition on arrival. 

“He’s travelled over beautifully, no problems at all,” he told Racing.com.

“The flight went really well, no delays and it’s only a nine-hour flight. It’s like going to Sydney on a float and probably not as bumpy.

“It was only his second flight, but he was very professional, which we expected. He’s settling in and he’ll most likely have a quiet day today, then we might have him under saddle tomorrow (Wednesday).”

Before his Group One assignment at Sha Tin, Mr Brightside will have a pair of gallops under regular trackwork rider Ross Wishart, who travelled over with the horse.

“His race is on the 27th (of April) so he’ll most likely, if he does really well, either gallop Friday or Saturday and then have his final gallop on the Tuesday for the Sunday,” Hayes said.

The son of Bullbars is the leading light for Hayes and his brothers Will and JD, who operate Lindsay Park Racing in Australia. Their father David Hayes will also play a major role on FWD Champions Day, with his phenomenal Kiwi-bred sprinter Ka Ying Rising the hot-favourite for the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

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