Mr Brightside has continued the recent good run of success for Lindsay Park claiming the $5 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley.
The victory was the second autumn feature for Ben and J D Hayes after they took out the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown last month.
Appreciating a return to Moonee Valley on Saturday where the gelding won the Group 2 Feehan Stakes last spring, Mr Brightside ($6.50 betr) raced to a half-length win from Cascadian ($21) with The Inevitable ($19) a short-neck away third.
Mr Brightside is the current stable star having provided the Hayes brothers with their first Group 1 success in the Doncaster Mile at last year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.
J D Hayes indicated the gelding was likely to return to Randwick on April 1 to defend his title.
“He’ll put himself in an elite bracket (if successful), but he’s already in an elite bracket in my heart,” Hayes said.
“He’s a beauty.”
Luke Currie took over from an injured Craig Williams who underwent surgery during the week on a fractured collarbone courtesy of a fall at Flemington last week.
Hayes explained it was his father David, who trains in Hong Kong, who was instrumental in getting Currie to return to Melbourne on a hit-and-run mission.
“Condolences go out to Craig,” Hayes said.
“He did such a good effort getting this horse ready and unfortunately one thing led to another, but that was a 10 out 10 steer from Luke Currie.
“The old man lives three floors above him in Hong Kong, so it was pretty easy, we just asked him to knock on the door.
“It was very close between him and Harry Coffey, but he rode that an absolute peach and was so confident going into it.”
Currie took up a contract to ride in Hong Kong last year, but spent time early in his tenure sidelined with a back fracture following a fall.
“I’ve had a tough last few years with injuries and whatnot and things haven’t been going quite my way in Hong Kong for the last few months,” Currie said.
“But I love Hong Kong and I’d love to stay there as long as I can, but it’s a very hard environment so it’s nice to come here and be able to pick off a big winner.”
Currie said David Hayes had been a supporter of his in Hong Kong, so to return to Melbourne and win the All-Star Mile for his sons was a big thrill.
And he said Williams had reached out to him to provide feedback on Mr Brightside.
“I spoke to Craig yesterday and he was happy for me to be riding the horse and gave me all the info,” Currie said.
“I’m sure a lot of guys would struggle to do that and not give you the insights, but Craig did straight away.
“He rang me without me having to reach out to him, so I wish him all the best and I can’t thank him enough either.”
