Superstitious owner Michael Andreadis has watched Mr Brightside from afar, but won’t miss his bid for international glory in Hong Kong
Part-owner Michael Andreadis, who once tried to split his share in Mr Brightside after a deflating maiden defeat, will break with tradition when the champion gelding races in Hong Kong on Sunday.
Lucky owner Michael Andreadis has experienced more suburban cricket premierships in four years than race days cheering on dream horse Mr Brightside.
The passion for cricket – and golf on other Saturdays – coupled with a superstition has led to part-owner Andreadis being trackside only twice to watch the $17.4m earner in the flesh.
Andreadis, who turned a family fish and chips shop into many, and last year opened Squires Loft Sunbury, is set to break with superstition and join Mr Brightside in Hong Kong.
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The nine-time Group 1-winner Mr Brightside, one of Australia’s best racehorses and certainly among the most popular, is second favourite for the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 27.
True to superstitious form, Andreadis, who coached Deer Park to three flags in four years, only locked in flights and accommodation for him and mates once Mr Brightside arrived in Hong Kong.
A soul-searching drive home from Bendigo on July 1, 2021, after Mr Brightside placed second as favourite in a 1400m maiden, sparked the Andreadis superstition.
Scorned by the defeat and lighter in the pocket, Andreadis even offered to split the share in Mr Brightside with two mates during the 90-minute drive home to Melbourne.
“We had a decent bet, no flash odds but we thought double or triple our money,” Andreadis said.
“I overreacted, as owners do, ‘if we can’t win a Bendigo maiden, what hope have we got of winning any decent race?’
“Basically offered my share to a couple mates to go in together … got back to me a week or so later saying ‘no, we’d rather stay out’, so I kept the whole (percentage) for myself.
“To be honest, I had no other choice.”
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Suffice to say Andreadis has rejected myriad offers since to sell or split the share.
“How do you sell it?” Andreadis said.
The Bendigo road trip mates have also largely been spared regular reminders.
“We don’t usually talk about it but I do stir them occasionally,” Andreadis said.
Mr Brightside has won 19 of 43 starts and placed 14 times.
He showed early promise, meticulously placed to advantage by the Lindsay Park trainers Ben and JD Hayes initially, and then finished fourth in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes, now Champions Mile.
He returned in the autumn and raced consistently without ultimate success, fourth in the 2022 All-Star Mile, before a shock breakout Group 1 Doncaster Mile triumph in Sydney.
“Sometimes you think it’s not real,” Andreadis said.
“You just pinch yourself and think, did that really happen?
“Did he just win the Doncaster? I couldn’t believe that day.
“I kept rewinding it … you had to rub your eyes and think ‘is that my horse, is that No.19 picking them up? And then, wow. Unbelievable really.”
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Mr Brightside defended the Doncaster in 2023 and has dominated Australian weight-for-age racing since, with another seven Group 1s and an All-Star Mile.
“Full credit to Wayne (Ormond) for picking him out,” Andreadis said.
“Lindsay Park has done a great job.
“This horse is like the most honest horse, he puts in every start.
“Never, ever, ever runs a bad race. It’s unbelievable.”
Andreadis has enjoyed the ride – albeit from afar – with custom “Mr B” trinkets including mugs, flags and a new golf driver head cover in the iconic Lindsay Park white, black and green colours.
He last watched Mr Brightside race live in the 2024 All-Star Mile when runner-up to Pride Of Jenni.
Ben Hayes speaks with Alex on Mr Brightside's chances in the Champions Mile this Sunday 👇@HKJC_Racing@WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/TFVepsWkYJ
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“The tough one watching (on television) was the (2023) Cox Plate,” Andreadis said.
“We’re at cricket, just started the season and there was probably 50 of us in the room watching the race and everyone is telling me ‘I think you won, I think you won, congratulations blah, blah, blah.
“I’m thinking ‘did he get its head down, did he win, looks like he won’ and I’ve got one mate who’s Mr Unlucky, a bit of a curse, and I looked across at him and he goes ‘hmmm I don’t think you won’.
“I said ‘oh no, serious’ … and yeah the rest is history, Romantic Warrior. Unbelievable.”
The international stage now beckons for Mr Brightside.
“We’re just going to enjoy it,” Andreadis said.
“Hopefully he wins and breaks my hoodoo.
“Hopefully, when (co-trainer) JD (Hayes) sees me he’s not too upset.
“I might stay in the grandstand, behind the windows!
“To be honest, it doesn’t really matter what he does from now on.
“He’s exceeded far and beyond anything I could dream of.”
Originally published as Superstitious owner Michael Andreadis has watched Mr Brightside from afar, but won’t miss his bid for international glory in Hong Kong
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