Kiwi import Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) recorded his third win in four starts in Australia for the Lindsay Park team of Ben and JD Hayes when scoring at Sandown on Wednesday over 1600m.
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 crossing the Tasman.
The son of Bullbars was ridden by Craig Williams, who waited for the narrowest of gaps when the frontrunner rolled off the fence, and the progressive galloper, who has been touted as a potential Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) prospect, showed good acceleration to take full advantage.
“It always takes a nice horse to win three in a row. We do have a nice opinion of him, and he is going through his grades nicely. That was a nice effort today,” JD Hayes said.
“It was lucky that the gaps opened up. He took a needle-eyed gap, and he showed a sharp turn of foot.”
