Legendary trainer David Hayes slams Mr Brightside 2000m knockers ahead of explosive Cox Plate showdown with Pride Of Jenni

David Hayes will jet into Melbourne on Monday with a spring in his step after unveiling the next star of the sprinting ranks in Hong Kong and says his boys can continue a family dynasty in the Cox Plate on Saturday.

Hall of Famer David Hayes has rubbished claims Mr Brightside can’t run 2000m, saying he has beaten every Australian horse at the top level, lighting the fuse for an explosive showdown with Pride Of Jenni in the $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate.

Jetting into Melbourne on Monday, the Hong Kong-based Hayes admitted it wasn’t ideal when the Lindsay Park star was forced to do the hard yards carting the field up to the freewheeling Pride Of Jenni, but was adamant his sons Ben, JD and Will were within touching distance of the race his family craves the most on Saturday.

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“If he doesn’t run 2000m, there are about 30,000 horses in Australia that can’t run it either,” Hayes told Racenet.

“He bombed out once because he chased Pride Of Jenni, every other time he has run well at Group 1 level.

“If he was going through the grades in a midweek at Sandown, he would have won at 2000m by 30 lengths.

“I find it laughable when they say he doesn’t run 2000m, he has beaten every single Australian horse at weight for age, but he keeps running into one that beats him.”

David Hayes is excited to see his sons win another Cox Plate for Lindsay Park. Picture: Michael Klein

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Hayes unveiled a future star of his own at Sha Tin on Sunday, saying Hong Kong Sprint favourite elect, Ka Ying Rising, would have been up to winning the $20 million Group 1 The Everest last weekend.

The four-year-old gelding, by Shamexpress, has set tongues wagging in Hong Kong, with a premiership-leading Hayes labelling him as good as any sprinter he has ever trained.

“I trained Bella Nipotina before I left (for Hong Kong), she is a champion,” Hayes said.

“She has gone right on with it of course, but this horse at the same stage as Bella Nipotina, he is ahead of her, he has the X-factor.

“He hasn’t done what my other good sprinters have done yet, but at this stage he is as good as anything I have ever trained as a sprinter.

“I have had Newmarket winners, Lightning winners, ran second in The Everest with Vega Magic.

“He would have been very competitive on Saturday.”

HOW EASY WAS THAT!? 🚀

Ka Ying Rising is untested in the G2 Premier Bowl at Sha Tin, clocking 1m 07.57s, just outside of Sacred Kingdom's course record (1m 07.50s) set in 2007... @zpurton#LoveRacing | #HKracingpic.twitter.com/gbImzRf4fe

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 20, 2024

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Ben, JD and Will Hayes will look to add a sixth Cox Plate to the Lindsay Park dynasty and become the third generation to win the great race on Saturday, with David watching on from the stands as a proud father.

“It would be one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever seen on a racetrack if they could win it,” David said.

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“The Cox Plate was very special to my father and it is special to the family, it has been a lucky race to us.

“If the third generation can win it in dad’s colours, it would be the most special thing.

“Dad was mad about it, he won it plenty of times, then I won it with ‘Fieldsy’ (Fields Of Omagh) and Better Loosen Up, I just love the race and best horse usually wins.”

Originally published as Legendary trainer David Hayes slams Mr Brightside 2000m knockers ahead of explosive Cox Plate showdown with Pride Of Jenni