Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) could still attempt a third consecutive Group One win in as many years over the Randwick autumn carnival, despite showing signs of soreness on pulling up from his unplaced Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) run at Flemington on Saturday.
The winner of the past two Doncaster Handicaps this year has long had the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 13 as his Sydney aim and his co-trainer Wil Hayes said on Sunday that the stable will work towards that goal.
“We’ve got a framework to potentially get him to Sydney for the Queen Elizabeth so that is where we will head towards, but it will definitely take a couple of days to see how he has come out of the run,” Hayes told RSN927’s Correct Weight program.
“Early signs so far are good, but we take it day by day with a horse of his quality.”
Racing Victoria stewards noted that Mr Brightside had “displayed soreness in his right foreleg” after the race and the stable will need a veterinary clearance before he races again.
Hayes reported that the stable was happy with their star galloper, who was ridden closer to the speed than he was in the All-Star Mile but was unable to rally over the final 200 metres.
“By all means he definitely put it all out there, so he’s a little bit stiff and sore this morning, but we’re very happy as he’s pulled up within normal limits for him,” Hayes said.
“She’s (Pride Of Jenni) an incredible horse who changes the race map that’s for sure. He was ridden a little bit more forward this time and it didn’t work out for us, but it was an incredible race to watch.”
