Ben, Will and J D Hayes are sticking with a proven formula in their bid to win the Cox Plate for Lindsay Park with stable star Mr Brightside.
Trips up and down the Hume Highway to Lindsay Park’s Euroa property have been key in getting Mr Brightside towards peak condition for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.
That race is still a little over two weeks away, so before that there is the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday for which Ben Hayes said Mr Brightside was 95% fit for.
With Saturday’s run under the belt and some expected sun on the gelding’s back in his favourite paddock at Lindsay Park, Hayes expects Mr Brightside to be flourishing come Cox Plate Day.
“It’s taken a while for his coat to come out and as you can see here today, his coat is probably 95 per cent there,” Hayes said.
“But he’s in great order. He’s lovely and sound and I think this is his best opportunity to win a Group 1 over 2000 metres.
“The other five per cent comes between now and Cox Plate Day and that’s the idea is having him peak Cox Plate Day.
“I think for the whole team and the ownership group, we’ d love to have one more crack at redemption for the Cox Plate, and we felt this was the best path for him.
“He had a nice run over a mile, running second behind (Pride Of) Jenni, which ensured a good, strong, hard run mile last time and he’s come through that great.
“So, I think a good run at 2000 (metres) will hopefully see us peaking.”
Hayes and his brothers are not upset that recently crown Australian Horse of the Year Pride Of Jenni is not in Saturday’s contest.
However, they have to contend with Deny Knowledge who, like Pride Of Jenni, likes to roll along at a good tempo.
“She ran well last start, and she’ll ensure a fast tempo, which I think is a good thing,” Hayes said of Deny Knowledge.
“You don’ t want to have a very slowly run 2000 metres heading into what will be a high-pressure Group 1 on Cox Plate Day.
“So, with her in the race, she’ll ensure that it’s run at a nice genuine tempo, and that’s what he’s used to, so he’ll be absolutely fine.”