Air Brightside: Lindsay Park champion Mr Brightside primed for Hong Kong

Co-trainer Ben Hayes expects champion Mr Brightside to take the travel to Hong Kong in his stride ahead of his Champions Mile tilt.

Mr Brightside primed for Hong Kong raid. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Co-trainer Ben Hayes expects champion Mr Brightside to take the travel to Hong Kong in his stride.

Mr Brightside is set to depart on Monday with fellow Australian raider Royal Patronage, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, for the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on April 27.

Hayes will join Mr Brightside in Hong Kong about a week out from the “grand final” Champions Mile.

“He’s a cool horse, takes everything in his stride, he should be 100 per cent,” Hayes said.

READ: Lane suspended and fined for winning Oaks ride

“I’m very confident he’ll travel well, he’s a very relaxed style of horse, as you can see at the races he falls asleep in the stalls and that’s what he’ll do on the plane.

“He’ll fall asleep and walk off, probably be one of those horses that puts on weight while he travels.

“He’s always travelled very well for us and no worse than being on a float for nine hours to Sydney.”

Hayes said the company of Royal Patronage would actually help both horses settle into the “as good as you get” quarantine barn in Hong Kong.

Mr Brightside is currently the $4.60 second elect in betting for the Champions Mile

Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers JD and Will, chaperoned former Lindsay Park star Criterion to Hong Kong in 2015.

“Royal Patronage will be Mr Brightside’s new best mate,” Hayes said.

“It’s really good, years and years ago it was Preferment and Criterion and Kris Lees had a horse, Lucia Valentina, they were all in the barn together.

“It’s good he’s got a mate because sometimes you can go to Hong Kong and have your own barn and it’s a bit lonely for the horses.”

Mr Brightside is $4.60 second elect for the Champions Mile from Hong Kong star Voyage Bubble ($2).

My Wish ($7), Galaxy Patch ($11) and Lake Forest ($11) round out the top five in all-in markets.

READ: Via Sistina joins Winx with crowning glory in Queen Elizabeth

“We respect them all. It’s an international race for a reason,” Hayes said.

“Voyage Bubble is a very good horse but I think we’re a very good horse too.

“My Wish has been racing well. The Hong Kong horses are still strong. It’s not a weak race.”

Lindsay Park has kept the work up to Mr Brightside the past month since he was pipped in the Group 1 All-Star Mile at Flemington.

He won the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) two starts back and placed second first-up in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m).

“It’s not like he’s out of form,” Hayes said.

“He’s been racing very well and he goes very well fresh.

“In Hong Kong they generally have a good tempo (in races) so it will be nice to see him settle behind the speed … he’s a much better chaser, it’s not good being a sitting duck.

“We’ve really kept the work up to him and he’s responded, he’s lovely and sound. We couldn’t be happier with him.”