The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and J D Hayes are in a quandary as to the best way to get Mr Brightside to his Group 1 target of the spring.
The King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 18 has been earmarked for the nine-time winner at Group 1 level.
Ben Hayes said he and his brothers had discussed options for the eight-year-old who returned with a pleasing second in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on August 30.
The Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday is under consideration, as is the 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday week, with a leaning to the former, although a decision won’t be made until closer to acceptance time on Wednesday.
Hayes said the team was not shying away from either Treasurethe Moment or Via Sistina, although the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 is not in their planning.
He said the weather would play an important role in their decision, although Hayes joked that wherever Mr Brightside goes, the rain stays away.
However, Mr Brightside did score one of his most impressive wins in last year’s Makybe Diva Stakes when he struck a heavy track.
Hayes said finding the right program into the King Charles III was difficult.
“If we run in the Makybe Diva, it’s five weeks, if we run in the 7 Stakes, it’s four weeks,” Hayes said.
“If he runs next week, we could run him in the Feehan Stakes (at Moonee Valley), like we did last year, or we could keep him fresh and not race for five weeks.
“It’s tricky, because if you’re not going up in trip, there’s no race that he can really go for, apart from the Feehan.
“There looks like there’s plenty of rain next week, so we might stay in Melbourne, but he has come through his run really well and he’s genuinely bucking his brands off.”
Hayes said Treasurethe Moment looked special in her return win and is confident of finishing closer to the mare if the decision is made to go to the Makybe Diva.
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