The Lindsay Park team of Ben Will and JD Hayes will press ahead with plans to head to Sydney with Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) for The Championships.
After winning the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile in 2022 and again last year, Mr Brightside is being aimed at the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday week.
Mr Bightside pulled up a little sore in the right foreleg and needs a veterinary clearance after finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday before starting.
J D Hayes said Mr Brightside had ‘pulled up within normal limits’, doing some work on Monday.
“He pulled up a little stiff and sore, as you do after a football game, or in this case a hard 2000-metre run like that,” Hayes told RSN.
“He was under saddle this morning and looked great, so it all system go to the Queen Elizabeth.”
Hayes said Mr Brightside would be ridden differently in the Queen Elizabeth with Pride Of Jenni again being in the race.
He said Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) was an amazing horse, a modern-day Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince).
“It was a proper run 2000 metres and what we have taken out of it is that we can absorb those hard run tempos at 1400 and the mile,” Hayes said.
“But at 2000 metres we probably need to ride him a bit more conservatively and hit the line and we’ll be going to the Queen Elizabeth with that approach.
“The heavy ground, that it looks like it will be on the weekend, hopefully stays around next week.
“He loves the sting out, so hopefully that will be another tick in his corner.
“In the last two years our trips to Sydney have been successful and hopefully it will be this time.”
Mr Brightside has been entered for two races in Hong Kong later in the month, but Hayes has all but ruled out the gelding making the trip.
“We’ll get through the Queen Elizabeth first, but it is looking unlikely,” he said.
