Mr Brightside to have his last Cox Plate lead-up run in Group 1 Might And Power

Mr Brightside won’t follow major rival Pride Of Jenni to Sydney for his final Cox Plate lead-up run with Lindsay Park preferring to test the gelding in a Group 1 contest at Caulfield.

Mr Brightside will round out his Cox Plate preparation in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes on October 12. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Mr Brightside will have his last Cox Plate lead-up run in Melbourne.

The Lindsay Park-trained star went down narrowly to the brilliant Hong Kong galloper Romantic Warrior in last year’s Cox Plate but will have a different program this year.

Mr Brightside had his last run before the 2023 Cox Plate in the $5m King Charles III Stakes in Sydney but trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes want to run the gelding over 2000m before this year’s event.

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“He’s going to the Caulfield Stakes (Might And Power Stakes) next,” Ben Hayes said.

“There was always a discussion about it (the King Charles) and most likely we’re not heading there now.

“I think the main aim of this prep will be the Cox Plate.”

Mr Brightside beat Pride Of Jenni when the pair clashed in wet ground in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington before the mare prevailed in last Friday night’s Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley.

THAT WAS AWESOME! 💙💜

Pride Of Jenni runs her opposition into the ground! 🔥 @[e-mail]/i8oSg4dNbf

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 27, 2024

The four-horse Feehan Stakes field left the race as a virtual match race between the two outstanding performers, which suited the frontrunning Pride Of Jenni.

Hayes said the Feehan Stakes defeat did no harm to Mr Brightside’s Cox Plate preparation.

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“It was actually the perfect run for him,” Hayes said.

“He did his best work to the line and the best part of his race was his final 200m.

“He’s had three good, hard runs and I think 2000m will be spot on for him now.

“The horse is fantastic.

“We could not be happier with him and he’s come through the run really well.”

Ladbrokes rated Mr Brightside as a $9 chance in its latest Cox Plate betting in which high-class Japanese visitor Prognosis is the $4.50 favourite ahead of Pride Of Jenni at $5.50.

Exciting Golden Rose winner Broadsiding is the third favourite at $6.

Originally published as Mr Brightside to have his last Cox Plate lead-up run in Group 1 Might And Power