An 8% share in Team Hayes-trained champion Mr Brightside was offered for sale but failed to meet the reserve price on Inglis Digital. The final bid of $275,000 fell just short of the $280,000 reserve.
A bid of $100,000 was made last Friday, and bids surpassed the $200,000 mark early Wednesday. After 33 bids, the highest amount offered valued Mr Brightside at $3.5 million, still $5000 short of the reserve.
Mr Brightside, a rising seven-year-old, has earned $13.4 million in his 34-start career, including six Group 1 wins. The owner of the 8% share would have earned $906,000 in prizemoney so far.
Mr Brightside will be a key player in this year’s spring majors, including the $5 million King Charles III Stakes, the $5 million Cox Plate, and the $3 million Champion’s Mile.
The sale of the 8% share was due to a change in circumstances for the current owner. Co-trainer Ben Hayes is confident that Mr Brightside still has plenty to offer. His spring campaign will kick off with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31.