Mr Brightside all set for 2000m final frontier in Group 1 Might And Power before attention turns to Cox Plate

With seven Group 1s and an All-Star Mile, Mr Brightside doesn’t has anything left to prove, but there’s one more box left to tick.

Incredible to think Mr Brightside has anything left to prove, with seven Group 1s, an All-Star Mile and $14.1m in prizemoney in the bank.

And yet 2000m remains a final frontier, on paper only, for one of Australia’s best and most popular horses, who was beaten by the barest margin in the Cox Plate (2040m) last year.

• Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Caulfield

Trainer Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside has “his best opportunity” to tick the box on Saturday in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, the traditional lead-up for the Cox Plate.

“This is the most winnable 2000m race we’ve found, whether we win or not it’s hard at Group 1s,” Hayes said.

“I actually think (the distance) it’s no problems, he’s run very well at 2000m multiple times … he’s had five attempts and they’ve all been at Group 1 level.”

Trainer Ben Hayes and strapper William Evans with Mr Brightside at Flemington on Friday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Mr Brightside has run fifth and second in two Cox Plates, third in the Queen Elizabeth, fourth in the 2022 Might And Power and fifth in the Australian Cup in March.

Mr Brightside is a $1.75 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Might And Power on Saturday from Atishu ($4) and Deny Knowledge ($7).

Coco Sun ($12) is next best in the market.

Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers JD and Will, resisted a temptation to chase more prizemoney interstate, determined to tune up Mr Brightside for Cox Plate redemption.

“It’s nice to be in a race without Pride Of Jenni.”

Ben Hayes says Mr Brightside gets his best chance to win a Group 1 over 2000m in the Might And Power at Caulfield. @lindsayparkrace@CWilliamsJockey

🎥 via @gilbertgardinerpic.twitter.com/LRq5xllXHE

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) October 11, 2024

“We got so close last year and hopefully all goes to plan Saturday we’ll be going into that race (Cox Plate) full of confidence,” Hayes said.

“For the whole team and ownership group we’d love to have one more crack for redemption in the Cox Plate and we felt this was the best path.

“We had a nice run over a mile (Feehan Stakes) running second to Pride Of Jenni, which ensured a good strong hard mile and he’s come through that great.

“A good run at 2000m (on Saturday) and hopefully we’re peaking in the Cox Plate.”

Originally published as Mr Brightside all set for 2000m final frontier in Group 1 Might And Power before attention turns to Cox Plate