All-Star Mile winner Mr Brightside is set to make his racetrack return in Saturday’s Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
The last-start Doncaster Mile (1600m) winner heads a 27-strong set of nominations for the Group 2 feature worth $300,000.
The Lawrence Stakes will be the launching pad towards yet another start in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 28 for Mr Brightside, who finished seventh in the Moonee Valley feature last year.
Joining Mr Brightside in the nominations is Chris Waller’s El Bodegon, who failed to make an impact in three runs during the autumn in Sydney – a somewhat disappointing result considering he finished third in the 2022 Cox Plate behind Anamoe and I’m Thunderstruck.
New-season four-year-olds Attrition, Golden Mile and Lindermann all hold nominations for the Caulfield feature, although they have also accepted for the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
New Zealand Group 1 winner Aegon is one of 20 nominees who are yet to be seen this spring and could potentially run in the PB Lawrence Stakes first-up.
Last year’s Toorak Handicap (1600m) winner, Tuvalu, is among those set to return for another spring carnival, while Mike Moroney’s Buffalo River is set to line up in his second PB Lawrence having been beaten a half-length in last year’s race behind Mr Brightside and I Am Superman.
The final field for the 2023 PB Lawrence Stakes is set to be released at 11am on Wednesday morning.
2023 PB Lawrence Stakes nominations
| # | Horse | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aegon | Andrew Forsman |
| 2 | Attrition | Mitchell Freedman |
| 3 | Bandersnatch | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 4 | Bear Story | Clinton McDonald |
| 5 | Buffalo River | Mike Moroney |
| 6 | Chassis | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 7 | Deny Knowledge | Michael Kent |
| 8 | Duke De Sessa | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 9 | Edison | Nick Ryan |
| 10 | El Bodegon | Chris Waller |
| 11 | Forgot You | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 12 | Francesco Guardi | Chris Waller |
| 13 | Golden Mile | James Cummings |
| 14 | King Magnus | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock |
| 15 | Lindermann | Chris Waller |
| 16 | Mr Brightside | Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
| 17 | Pinstriped | Enver Jusufovic |
| 18 | Pounding | Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman |
| 19 | Regal Power | John Leek (Jnr) |
| 20 | Regardsmaree | Nick Ryan |
| 21 | Right You Are | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 22 | Smokin’ Romans | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 23 | Steinem | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 24 | Tuvalu | Lindsey Smith |
| 25 | Ucalledit | Kris Lees |
| 26 | Uncle Bryn | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 27 | Western Empire | John Leek (Jnr) |
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