The continued emergence of Mr Brightside as a topliner was the highlight of the Caulfield Saturday meeting.
It was a brilliant return to racing from the Team Hayes trained five-year-old gelding who looks certain to keep his career on an upward spiral.
A year ago, Mr Brightside raced his was through from maiden company to finishing fourth in the Cantala Stakes.
Then earlier this year he ended his autumn campaign with a win in the Doncaster.
Judging by the style of his victory in the weight-for-age Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes he has taken his game to another level.
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He has been perfectly placed by Lindsay Park and has won eight of his 14 starts.
His co-trainer Ben Hayes said on Racing.Com after the win that he was relieved and excited Mr Brightside had won as he wasn’t fully wound-up yet still was able to score at weight-for-age level.
Hayes said it was another step in the development of the five-year-old gelding who continued to mature and develop as he got older.
Mr Brightside, who has won eight of 14 starts, will be set for either the Cox Plate or the Caulfield Cup.
Queensland sprinter Uncommon James also won the Regal Roller Stakes in the style of a horse who can transition to better races as he won hard held.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
JIMMY THE BEAR
Patrick Payne has placed this galloper to almost perfection winning four of his past five starts. He’l remain down in the weights and will be a threat in anything he contests. He can race on the speed which gives him a huge advantage. His jockey Bill Egan said that was his best performance, but he still had improvement to come as he still lugs out when he turns into the straight.
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VOW AND DECLARE
The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner showed he’s still got a lot to offer with his first-up run in 11 months when he ran home to finish fifth behind Jimmy The Bear. His last 600 metres was in 11.53 seconds the third fastest in the race and he carried seven kilos more than those horses.
GIGA KICK
Finished off in the manner of a classy horse to grab the front-runner Alpha One to take out the Group 3 Vain Stakes. His closing sectionals were those of a top-class sprinter. He recorded the fastest last 400 metres of the meeting (21.23 seconds) and 200 metres (10.82 seconds).
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UNCLE BRYN
Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin would have been pleased with Uncle Bryn’s effort in Group 2 company over 1400 metres at weight-for-age. He returned the third fastest last 200 metres of 11.40 seconds.
