A change of plans has seen Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) take to The Valley on Tuesday morning as an important part of his build-up towards a mouth-watering first-up bout against Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said the Lindsay Park team snapped up the chance to gallop the Cox Plate runner-up at The Valley rather than trial on a country track later in the week, as had been originally programmed.
“He had a nice gallop there with a workmate and we’re really happy with his work,” Hayes said.
“It was very kind of Moonee Valley to let us have it. He was on a beautiful surface and he joined in and went to the line nice and strong.
“He’s definitely going to take some nice improvement out of it and he’s right on track for the Memsie.
“It was just a change of plan. We were originally going to trial this Friday, but we decided we wouldn’t go to Kilmore, so we thought a gallop in between and then trial next week at Flemington and that will have him spot on for the big race on the 31st.”
Hayes said Mr Brightside’s workmate Devoted impressed with his gallop on his way to contesting either the BM84 (1400m) or BM100 (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Hayes said flying filly Bold Bastille is likely to miss Saturday’s G3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) and instead go first-up in the 1000-metre Carlyon Stakes at set-weights-and-penalties at The Valley the following Saturday.
Resuming from a long break on Saturday for the stable will be staying mare Caste, who will line-up in the 1200-metre Regal Roller Stakes.
“She’s been off the scene for a while with knee issues,” Hayes said. “She’s had surgery and she will most likely need the run and you won’t see her best form until she gets out to a mile and beyond.
“She’s a powerful mare and her trial was promising so we’re very hopeful of her finding her form again when she gets some ground.”
