The Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) is on the tongue of trainers Ben and JD Hayes when referencing Mr Brightside after his win over a mile at Sandown on Sunday.
It was the first Melbourne winner for the brothers who have recently joined forces at Lindsay Park, and they were buoyed by the win.
“It is really good to just get that first metro winner with my brother JD,” Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
“We’ve been knocking on the door, lots of seconds and it’s been very frustrating but it’s really good to get it and in the new season as well.”
Hayes said Mr Brightside reminds him of 2016 Toorak Handicap winner He’s Our Rokkii who was also sourced as an inexperienced horse from New Zealand.
“The way he won here today, he can go straight to the city (on a Saturday) and be ultra-competitive. I think a Toorak, that could be a race he could pop up in if he keeps improving but he has to do that still.”
The four-year-old gelding was initially trained in New Zealand by Ralph Manning for whom he ran fifth in his sole New Zealand start before heading to Australia.
