The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes have will be out to add their names to the honour of Cox Plate winning trainers.
That honour roll includes their father David and grandfather Colin and Ben Hayes believes they have a strong chance in this year’s edition of the 2040m race at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will represent the stable looking to improve on his record at The Valley of three wins from four starts with the gelding’s solitary defeat coming in last year’s Cox Plate when seventh behind Anamoe (Street Boss).
Ben Hayes was a part of the training team when Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) finished second to Winx (Street Cry) in the 2015 Cox Plate, while J D and Ben prepared Mr Brightside for last year’s race.
“I know for the family along with J D, Will and I, the Cox Plate would be a big thrill to continue that history with my father and C S, they both won and it’s something we’d like to do,” Ben Hayes said.
“We got very close with Criterion, but unfortunately, we ran into Winx, in my first Cox Plate.
“I really wanted to win one then, and this is our best opportunity to date, so hopefully he can do it.”
Mr Brightside enters Saturday’s race with three wins to start off his campaign before running second to Fangirl (Sebring) in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 14.
Hayes said Mr Brightside went into that race a little on the fresh side having not raced in four weeks leading into the race and sweated up behind the gates.
“When he sweats up, he generally doesn’t run his best. He runs well, but not his best,” Hayes said.
“He got a bit fresh on us, so with these two weeks between runs, it’s better for him.
“His work has been great. His attitude has been great. He took his rider right up hill in his work at the farm on Tuesday, so I think he’ll be spot-on.”
A question mark exists about whether Mr Brightside will run a strong 2040m, but the Lindsay Park training team is unconcerned.
The gelding will jump from barrier two, the same gate he started from when successful in the All-Star Mile back in March, and from that draw should be afforded a soft run.
“He’s got a great record at The Valley and one of the question marks people have been asking about is will he run 2000 metres,” Hayes said.
“I think barrier two gives him every opportunity to do that. He should get a nice soft run.
“All I can say is the horse is in fantastic order.”
