Lindsay Park has a spring in its step with superstar Mr Brightside and rising star Bold Bastille taking the next step in their pre-training program.
A bulked up Mr Brightside, a six-time Group 1 winner and Cox Plate runner-up, will start pace work this week along with electric filly Bold Bastille.
Trainer Ben Hayes, fresh off a first metropolitan four-time last Saturday at Flemington with brothers JD and Will, has been pleased with the progress of Mr Brightside and Bold Bastille.
“He’s up to evens (15-second 200m splits) this week, we’re really happy with him,” Hayes said of Mr Brightside.
“We can’t fault him, he’s a happy horse and working great. He put on nearly 40-45kg, he had a really good holiday, he’s carrying nice condition but that’s a good position to be in at this time.”
Mr Brightside will aim to defend his Memsie Stakes (1400m) title fresh on August 31 at Caulfield as opposed to second-up like last year after first-up winning the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m).
“We’ll miss the Lawrence, we just wanted to give him a bit more of a break,” Hayes said.
Mr Brightside competed strongly last campaign, winning the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m) before striking the white hot Pride Of Jenni in the All-Star Mile.
He placed fifth in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) and third in Pride Of Jenni’s startling Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2000m) domination.
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Hayes remains open-minded about the path to hopeful Cox Plate redemption after being touched off by the barest margin last year behind champion Hong Kong globetrotter Romantic Warrior.
“We’ll look at the Memsie, there’s not many other options for a horse like him,” Hayes said.
“Otherwise you’re kicking off over a mile, the Memsie will be the go at this stage and then from there there is no direct path towards a race like the Cox Plate.”
Bold Bastille is slated to resume a week before Mr Brightside in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 24.
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The Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 7 could be an early spring target for the fast rising three-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau before attention potentially turns to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
“She’s great, really happy with her,” Hayes said.
“Moir is definitely an option… she’ll probably kick off in those three-year-old sprint races early in the spring, like the Quezette and we’ll look at the Moir.
“She might be a straight horse, she’s won down the straight, so we’ve got lots of options with her.”
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Originally published as Mr Brightside on song for huge spring carnival: ‘He’s put on 40kg’