Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will return to Moonee Valley for a tilt at a second win in the Feehan Stakes.
Lindsay Park has locked in the next start for Mr Brightsideon his path towards the Cox Plate.
The Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on AFL Grand Final Eve, September 27, will be one of two races Mr Brightside has before the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 26.
The Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12 will be Mr Brightside’s final assignment before Moonee Valley’s showpiece two weeks later.
The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained galloper returned to winning form at Flemington last Saturday taking out the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes where he wore down Pride Of Jenni in the final stages.
Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside’s recovery from that race was the best it had been for two years.
“He pulled-up just as well as he did first-up and that was the best he had pulled-up for two years,” Hayes said.
“The wet track definitely worked in his favour and the way the race panned out, it was perfect.
“He’s in good order with further improvement to come, which is nice.
“We’re going to the Feehan, then we’ll go to the Might And Power two weeks after that and then two weeks to the Cox Plate.
“I think that is the best way for him to get to what his Grand Final is.”
Mr Brightside won the Feehan Stakes in 2022 when the race was run three weeks earlier than where it is now placed before going on to run seventh to Anamoe in the Cox Plate.
A tinker to Mr Brightside’s gear aided the gelding’s post-race recovery following his Makybe Diva Stakes success.
Mr Brightside had previously worn a tongue tie in recent starts until a tongue control bit was worn in his victory on Saturday.
Hayes explained the Lindsay Park team had concerns Mr Brightside was getting his tongue over the bit which was affecting his breathing.
“I think the tongue tie was annoying him, which is why he was getting tongue out the side of his mouth,” Hayes said.
“He raced well with it, but it was one little thing that he doesn’t need to worry about now.
“He’s racing well, so you have to trust him. He jumps, he travels, Craig points him, and he goes.”
