Mr Brightside to light up The Valley in Group 2 Feehan Stakes

Lindsay Park has mapped a path to Cox Plate redemption with Mr Brightside to return to The Valley next Friday to race under lights for the first time in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes.

Lindsay Park has mapped a path to Cox Plate redemption with Mr Brightside to return to The Valley next Friday to race under lights for the first time in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes.

Mr Brightside defeated Pride Of Jenni last Saturday in a pulsating Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

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The $14m prizemoney earner’s presence at The Valley will only supercharge an already electric AFL grand final eve race card, spearheaded by the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

Moonee Valley Racing Club pushed back the Feehan, a Cox Plate qualifier previously held in early September, to now be a month before Australia’s best race.

Trainer Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside, touched off in the Cox Plate last year by Hong Kong’s globetrotting champion Romantic Warrior, pulled up “fantastic” from the Makybe Diva.

WHAT A RACE! 🔥

Mr Brightside runs down Pride Of Jenni & goes back-to-back in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes 🖤@[e-mail]/yGmo3s6eSJ

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 14, 2024

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“He pulled up just as good as he did first-up and I said that was the best he’s pulled up in two years,” Hayes said.

“The wet track played in his favour, the way the race panned out was perfect, Antino helped him up to Pride Of Jenni and he was able to get there on the line.

“He’s in good order and he’s got more improvement to come, which is a nice thing.

“We’re going to the Feehan and then we’ll go to the Might And Power (Caulfield Stakes) two weeks after that and then two weeks (into the) Cox Plate.

“I just think that’s the best way for him to get to what his grand final is.”

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Mr Brightside contested the PB Lawrence Stakes (first), Memsie Stakes (first) and Makybe Diva Stakes (first) last year going to Sydney for the King Charles III Stakes (second) and then two weeks into the Cox Plate.

He resumed in the Memsie Stakes (2nd) this year and won the Makybe Diva.

The King Charles III is seven days before the Cox Plate this year.

Mr Brightside won the Feehan Stakes by 4½ lengths in 2022.

Hayes said the tongue control bit, a minor adjustment to Mr Brightside’s gear changed for the Makybe Diva, would remain in place.

Mr Brightside, a seven-time Group 1 and All-Star Mile winner, had worn a tongue tie since April last year.

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“One of our staff suggested it (tongue control bit) and we thought why not, that makes sense,” Hayes said.

“The only reason the tongue tie was on because what he does (is) suck his tongue right back and gets over it, it’s a habit, he puts the tongue over and back under (the tie).

“When he’s racing, generally, he gets it in his good spot and when he’s relaxed his tongue flops out and we just let him do it.

“The tongue tie just annoys him, all he tries to do is take it off, he raced well with it, I don’t think it’s a big deal, just a minor thing, and he’s racing so well I think you just trust him.

“He jumps, he travels, (jockey) Craig (Williams) sits, points him and he goes, he’s a bombproof horse.”

Originally published as Mr Brightside to light up The Valley in Group 2 Feehan Stakes