New Zealand-bred Group One winner Mr Brightside will get his chance to defend his crown in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield in March after securing one of two early wildcard entries for the A$4 million feature.
Mr Brightside had a stellar spring, winning the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 Memsie Stakes and Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes, before finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m), Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m).
Trainers Ben, Will, and JD Hayes elected to bypass a trip to Hong Kong with the gelding last month, with the six-year-old seen for the first time publicly this year on Friday in a jumpout at Flemington.
“He only had a few weeks in the paddock, but he really enjoyed his time out and is now looking as good as ever,” Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
“We’ll follow the same program as last autumn and hope for the same result in The All-Star Mile. He’s such a versatile horse, he goes well on any ground and on any racetrack, but it obviously gives us extra confidence that he has a very good record at Caulfield.
“The ownership group is having the times of their lives, some of them are first-time owners and they can’t believe their luck. Some people go their whole lives without owning a horse half as good as him, so they’re loving every minute of the ride and hopefully we can create some more memories this prep.”
All-Star Mile eyes will be switched to New Zealand this weekend with two ‘win-and-you’re-in’ races set for Ellerslie’s Karaka Millions meeting.
The winners of the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds will be offered a guaranteed start in The 2024 All-Star Mile, which will this year feature a field of 16 runners.
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing have partnered with Racing Victoria to make sure you have the chance to win an all-star trip too, and your share of AUD$250,000.
Simply fill in the short form linked below and you’re in the draw to win a trip for two to Melbourne as the ATR Owner Ambassador of one of the Kiwi horses running in the big race. As an ATR Owner Ambassador (in addition to a dreamy trip to cheer on your charge), you’re in for a share of AUD$250,000 with a cool AUD$100,000 up for grabs for the Owner Ambassador whose horse takes out the $4m feature.