Mr Brightside to continue chase for 2000m win in Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick

Returning to a happy hunting ground could be one thing to assist Mr Brightside in his bid to post a 2000m win in Saturday week’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

Mr Brightside will head to Sydney for his bid to post a maiden win over 2000m in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Shifting to a proven money pit could be the factor that provided Mr Brightside with a 2000m breakthrough on Saturday week.

Mr Brightside was beaten for the fourth straight time over 2000m when he finished fifth to Godolphin marvel Cascadian in last Saturday’s Australian Cup at Flemington.

However, Lindsay Park trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes remain adamant Mr Brightside can win at Group 1 level over 2000m.

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Mr Brightside was narrowly beaten over the championship distance in the Cox Plate last spring but the gelding finished almost five lengths from Pride Of Jenni in the Australian Cup.

Ben Hayes said a combination of factors, including Pride Of Jenni’s high-pressure racing style, contributed to Mr Brightside’s downfall in the Australian Cup.

“I still thought he ran well,” Hayes said.

“He led the field up to her.

“He knocked up the last little bit but it was a respectable run.

“They have flown (in the Australian Cup) and unfortunately, the tactics Pride Of Jenni uses don’t help him, especially over 2000(m).

“His best asset is his turn of foot but when they are strong-run 2000 (m races), it takes away his best asset.”

Mr Brightside finished fifth to Cascadian in last Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Hayes said the Good 3 conditions at Flemington last Saturday posed a minor problem for Mr Brightside immediately following the Australian Cup.

He added Mr Brightside had recovered well from his latest tough run.

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“With him, in his fourth run of the prep, he was on a Good 3 and he’s just a horse that prefers a bit more give out of the track,” Hayes said.

“He has jarred up a little bit out of the race.

“He’s trotting fine but he has felt the run.”

WHAT AN EDITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN CUP!

CASCADIAN GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 💙💙@[e-mail]/EzCD6ssG4r

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 30, 2024

A trip to Sydney looms as a different challenge for Mr Brightside for Saturday week’s $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

Pride Of Jenni is a possible runner in the rich event but the likelihood of softer conditions left the Hayes camp optimistic of a strong performance from Mr Brightside in the weight-for-age race.

Mr Brightside has an outstanding record at Randwick, banking more than $5.1m with two Doncaster Mile wins and a second in the King Charles III Stakes from three runs at the track.

“The Queen Elizabeth, if it’s a wet track, it’s a completely different story,” Hayes said.

“He hasn’t been on a wet track for a while so we’d be silly to dismiss it.

“We’ll see how he is and we’ll look to head in that direction.

“If we’re happy, we’ll accept.”

Mr Brightside is an $8 chance in TAB’s latest Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.

The impressive Ranvet Stakes winner Via Sistina is the $2.10 favourite to continue his unbeaten start to his Australian career.