Winning Horse: Mr Brightside (Nz)

4yoG Bullbars (Aus) - Lilahjay (NZ)(Tavistock (NZ))

4 starts - 2 wins 1 second $53237

Other Wins

1st Geelong Hollard Commercial Ins. Mdn 1447m (2021)

Other Placings

2nd Bendigo Budget Car & Truck Rental Mdn 1400m (2021)

Race Result:

1st: Mr Brightside (C Williams/B & J Hayes) - $2.60 fav

2nd: Saint Of Katowice (J Richards/C Maher & D Eustace) - $8.50
3rd: Firstclass Dreamer (A Kelly/M Brown) - $20

Winning Time: 1:39.78 Last 600m: n/a

Margins: 3-3/4L x Head

Winning Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes (Ben interviewed)

Thought in run: “There was plenty of speed. It was a great ride by Craig (Williams) just behind the speed. He found a bum and he was under pressure a little way out but they were just rolling so fast. He ended up winning very impressively. It’s a big thrill for the whole team and it is great to get a winner for the new season.”

Comparisons to Mr Brightside and former stable Group 1 winner He’s Our Rokki: “He reminds us of a horse we used to train called He’s Our Rokki. He was a horse we bought from New Zealand who came out and won very similar to this. Hopefully he can follow in that kind of footpath.”

Training his first city winner in partnership with brother JD: “It is really good to just get that first metro winner with my brother JD. We’ve been knocking on the door, lots of seconds and it’s been very frustrating but it’s really good to get it and in the new season as well. Well done to everyone back at home, we’ve been working hard and it was a big result.”

On Mr Brightside’s potential: “The way he won here today, he can go straight to the city and be ultra competitive. I think a Toorak, that could be a race he could pop up in if he keeps improving but he has to do that still.”

“He has always shown good ability at home and it is just fantastic to see him do it on the racetrack. Really exciting going forward. It’s nice to have a nice, up and coming horse in the yard.”

Winning Jockey: Craig Williams

Won on him at Geelong, keen to stay with him: “Certainly. They’ve obviously got an opinion of him. He was a winner in New Zealand as a maiden and purchased by Australian clients and sent over here. In his first run he was just beaten behind a horse of Chris Waller’s that I had been on in two meetings and been scratched and scratched again today. This horse went to Geelong and I was really impressed with his performance. I might have ridden him upside down that day as well, but today we saw him very versatile and made the step to the next grade and was quite impressive.”

Speed on up front: “There is no problem with him settling. It will be interesting to see what distance range Lindsay Park will want to go with him because he’s got a great attitude in a race to relax and has really good acceleration and can also sustain it. He’s seems to be going the right way, but he’s still a raw horse in his mentality.”

Step up in grade next prep: “I could feel that confidence in him going to the gates. He was quite full of himself today, but the stable is managing very well and I look forward to seeing where his next challenge is going to be.

“It’s great to be on the leader board and equal leader on the championship this season.”