Mr Brightside’s bold racing style and consistency have made him popular among fans and punters. But for the Hayes team, he is more than just a champion – he’s a defining horse in their training journey. “He is what’s good about the industry,” says JD Hayes. “He got passed in at three yearling sales, so there were a lot of opportunities for people to buy him. It’s just a beautiful part about the game – you never know where your next champion’s coming from.”
From humble beginnings, he has risen to become one of Australia’s premier milers, a testament to the unpredictable beauty of racing.
“Every race we’ve targeted him into, he’s got to it,” says Ben Hayes. “He’s very sound, he’s genuine. To this day, he hasn’t had many issues at all, and he’s been the most straightforward, easy horse we’ve had to train in the stable.” With his signature grit and ability to lift when it matters most, he heads into the All-Star Mile as a leading contender.
The thrill of training a horse like Mr Brightside is something the team will never take for granted.
“There’s no feeling like it, you’re jumping up and down, yelling, screaming, hugging your loved ones, and the adrenaline is something else.”
“I think that’s what hooks you about this industry, that feeling,” says JD
