Rise At Dawn out to emulate Mr Brightside in Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick

Dual Doncaster Mile winner Mr Brightside has blazed a path his fellow “ugly duckling” Rise At Dawn can follow in Saturday’s $4m Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

Fortunately for Rise At Dawn, Group 1 races are not beauty contests.

The same sentiment would also apply to his illustrious stablemate Mr Brightside.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes said Rise At Dawn would not win any beauty pageants but the consistent chestnut could win Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick, but he needs to gain a start from the reserve bench first.

“He’s what I’d call an ugly duckling, he’s not much to look at, a bit like Mr Brightside, but he’s all heart,” Hayes, who trains Rise At Dawn in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, said.

Rise At Dawn has built a terrific record for the Lindsay Park operation, winning eight of his 14 starts, including four wins from his five runs this season, to earn himself a crack at Group 1 level in last month’s All-Star Mile.

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The son of Almanzor finished sixth of the seven runners but was only beaten a little more than four lengths when meeting established Group 1 performers Tom Kitten, Mr Brightside, Another Wil and Atishu.

We’ve taken our time with him and he has kept stepping up.

“We really threw him in the deep end in the All-Star Mile,” Hayes said.

“You could just see those top liners were that little bit good for him at the moment but he’s the type of horse that will keep improving.”

The All-Star Mile form stood up when Light Infantry Man, who was third in that race, progressed to convincingly win last Saturday’s Australian Cup at Flemington.

WHAT A RACE! ⭐️

Tom Kitten defeats Mr Brightside in a thrilling edition of All-Star Mile 7 😺@[e-mail]/wqX55HnRJz

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 8, 2025

• Two jumpouts to prime Mr Brightside for Hong Kong test

Rise At Dawn was unsuited at weight-for-age in the All-Star Mile but reverts to handicap conditions in the famous Randwick mile, leaving the son of Almanzor to carry only 51kg. He is the first emergency and will exit barrier two if he gains a start.

Hayes noted the similarities between Rise At Dawn’s circumstances and those surrounding Mr Brightside’s first Doncaster Mile win in 2022.

Mr Brightside finished fourth in that year’s All-Star Mile before winning the Doncaster from barrier 18 as a $20 chance.

“If he gets a start he gets into a Doncaster with only 51kg and he’s got the same rating as Mr Brightside when he won it so fingers crossed,” Hayes said.

“He might surprise. Just like Brightside did.”

Rise At Dawn relishes the strong tempo to win The Elms Handicap 💪🏻

He has earned himself a spot in the 2025 All-Star Mile ⭐️@lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/8juGJ2MxBb

— Racing.com (@Racing) February 15, 2025

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From an inside barrier, Hong Kong-based jockey Karis Teetan will send Rise At Dawn forward to make full use of his light weight if he gains a start.

“The All-Star Mile in the last couple of years has been the form,” Hayes said.

“He’s always dominated his races and he was able to do that in the All-Star Mile, but he’s got that natural high cruising speed, and with only 51kg, and couple of good hard runs, he’ll be a horse that people might forget.”

Hayes added a wet track would not worry Rise At Dawn, which easily won in heavy ground on debut at Werribee in July 2023.