Nine-time Group One champion Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has jarred up out of Saturday’s Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m), but, in encouraging news, is still well on track to race in Hong Kong next month.
Mr Brightside fought courageously for a narrow second behind Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) in the new Group One, but co-trainer Ben Hayes said on Monday it was obvious the seven-year-old felt the firm track, which had been upgraded to a Good 3 less than half an hour before the race.
“He jarred up out of the run,” Hayes said. “It’s nothing bad, don’t get me wrong. He’s OK, just jarred up and came out with a bruised heel.
“We were thinking about running him in two weeks in the George Ryder (Gr.1, 1500m), but we’ll see how it is. If not, we’ll go to Hong Kong most likely.
“The George Ryder is two weeks away and if it was three weeks, it would be perfect.”
As for a potential run in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) in Hong Kong on April 27, Hayes said it wouldn’t worry the stable if Mr Brightside did not race until then.
“It’s seven weeks to the 27th, so he’ll probably have a jumpout and maybe two jumpouts and maybe a course proper gallop.”
The narrow defeat of Mr Brightside continued a frustrating theme for Lindsay Park at the weekend, with further second placings in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) (Here To Shock); the $3.5 million The Kiwi (1500m) (Evaporate); the Gr.3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) (Gin Spirit).
They also finished third in the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) (Sneaky Sunrise) and fourth in the Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m) (Tycoon Star).
