Winning Horse: Mr Brightside (Nz)

6yoG Bullbars (Aus) – Lilahjay (NZ)(Tavistock (NZ))

30 starts – 15 wins 5 seconds 2 thirds 4 fourths $11923753

Group 1 Wins

1st G1 Flemington Pfd Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes 1600m (2023)

1st G1 Caulfield Stow Storage Memsie Stakes 1400m (2023)

1st G1 Randwick The Star Doncaster Mile 1600m (2023)

1st G1 Randwick The Star Doncaster Mile 1600m (2022)

Black Type Wins

1st G2 Caulfield Quayclean P.B. Lawrence Stakes 1400m (2023)

1st G2 Moonee Valley Clamms Seafood Feehan Stakes 1600m (2022)

1st G2 Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes 1400m (2022)

1st LR Ballarat Bet With Mates Cup 1600m (2021)

Race Result:

1st: Mr Brightside (C Williams/B, W & JD Hayes) – $1.95 fav
2nd: Pride Of Jenni (D Bates/C Maher) – $9
3rd: Buffalo River (C Gaudray/M Moroney) – $61

Winning Time: 1:22.27 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Half Head x Head

Winning Trainer: Ben, Will & JD Hayes (JD speaking)

On the run: “He’s a great horse, he’s so dear to our hearts, it turned out he was slow away but it worked out perfect with the pace on and Pride Of Jenni was so brave there but I was glad that he got there late and so much improvement in him to come, hopefully it’s the start of a big Autumn.”

First up win: “He’s been beaten in the Autumn first up every time so if history repeats, this is a first for him, and we’re very happy, he’s a seasoned campaigner now and there was nothing to read into the trials and jump outs, we thought it was nothing for him just being an older horse.”

Team effort: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone back home and all the clients supporting us, it’s such a team effort and when a horse like Mr Brightside is able to fly the flag it gives us a reason to have a sore head in the morning.”

Futurity, All Star Mile, Australian Cup: “It’s looking that way, so hopefully he keeps ticking the boxes, what a horse.”

Winning Jockey: Craig Williams

Privilege to ride: “Credit’s got to go to the Hayes boys. Ben, Will, JD Hayes, their stable, I’m very lucky, I feel like I’m Lewis Hamilton, although he changed from Mercedes so I better not be Lewis Hamilton any more but it feels like that when they give you that opportunity to come in and ride this type of horse and then I just get a feel for him, they give me instructions, they’ve got a great handle on him and it’s a privilege to ride.”

On the horse: “Today was a bit of hard work, it was hard, usually when he starts off his preparation he’s a little bit cheeky, a bit full of himself because he’s got improvement and today he got to the start and reared and we were lucky enough to get from a nice barrier into a nice position, he raced well but then wow, Jenni’s such a tough horse which we know, the last time I met her and that was a brutal run race and I’m just very lucky that even through my urges to keep him balanced, he’s just got an amazing ability but great will to win.”

Missing the start: “I think he just summed up my approach to riding a horse as good as he is, that part was never a worry, it was only when we came under pressure and he wasn’t travelling I went oh wow, and again, he’s ready to come to the races, to compete and to win but he’s still got more to come, there’s more improvement but look, it was a brutal tactic by the second or third horse and it nearly got us all out of our comfort zone but he’s just got a great tenacity, a great will to win and I can’t wait to give him another pat now.”

Beaten Jockeys:

Mark Zahra (Pericles): “He ran like he really needed the run today.”

Blake Shinn (Munhamek): “He ran super. He just had to go back too far from nine of nine. When they’re running that brutal tempo it’s hard to make that ground, giving those great horses a start. He did chase valiantly. It was a good effort.”

Steven Parnham (Bustler): “The pace was pretty strong and they went quick again from the 800 (metres) which got us out of our ability to travel. He probably needs to get over a bit more ground where he can be a bit more comfortable.”

Celine Gaudray (Buffalo River): “That was definitely one of his best runs. It was good having Pride Of Jenni being a bunny there. I was very happy with him.”

Jamie Kah (Ayrton): “He ran well. I think he ran up to his best. There was a lot of pressure that brought him off the bridle early.”

Michael Dee (Atishu): “She never really felt comfortable at all the whole way. She struggled to maintain the bridle and I tried to hold the back of winner early but she just struggled from then on. We’ll have to see how she pulls up.”

Declan Bates (Pride Of Jenni): “Super run. Absolutely super. She was a bit fresh today over the 1400m but to dig deep and go so close, not beaten far, massive. I think top of the straight I thought she was going to start to tire a bit but she’s just so tough and has such an engine she can put out more. That should hopefully kick off a really good prep.”

Damian Lane (Veight): “He ran super. He was very honest. Unfortunately the horse I was following let Pride Of Jenni and Buffalo River get away from us on the corner, so I had to get out and get at him a bit earlier than I would have liked. He just peaked on his run at the 150 (metres) and obviously Mr Brightside was too good for all of us late. I thought it was a really good run for his first go in that company.”