Wednesday, 21st January 2026
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Co-trainer JD Hayes has outlined the autumn plans for multiple Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (Bullbars-Lilahjay, by Tavistock), reported racing.com. "He'll kick off in the C.F. Orr, then the Futurity (Stakes), All-Star Mile and then we're looking at an Australian Cup and from there comes the fork in the road, but the first four runs are pretty much a lock," Hayes said. "It's his first jumpout so he'll just bowl around and have a nice fitness blowout and then he'll probably trial at Geelong on the 30th. We've just been ticking him over at home, he's been getting out in the day paddocks, he's been loving life, we've had really good weather up here at the farm (Euroa) and he's been the beneficiary of that. He looks magnificent so we're looking forward to seeing him come through these couple of trials leading up to the first-up run." At this stage, Team Hayes is not looking at a third Gr1 Doncaster Handicap. "The Queen Elizabeth (2000m) is a very enticing race with the prizemoney on offer, it does look the logical option but we'll just see how he's going and how he's handling the preparation," Hayes said. Mr Brightside has won 14 of his 29 starts and over $11 million. He was a $22,000 yearling at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale, sold by Phoenix Park.
