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Hayes: Mr B "unlikely" to run in Cox Plate
Connor Scanlon • September 14th, 2025 7:51 pm
Fan-favourite Mr Brightside just won his 10th Group 1 victory, taking out the Makybe Diva Stakes, proving his doubters wrong.
The eight-year-old gelding experienced critism due to his older age prior to this spring carnival and co-trainer Ben Hayes couldn’t be happier with his horses’ unreal performances.
Hayes joined RSN’s Correct Weight to discuss the champions Group 1 victory and his future races this preparation.
“It’s a very satisfying Group 1 win, I can assure you,” Will and JD Hayes co-trainer said.
“Everyone thinks he’s old and he’s not as good as he used to be. It was just really nice to show everyone that he’s absolutely fine.
“Arguably while everything went his way, it was one of his better wins.
“He still broke 22 seconds and the best horse in Australia Via Sistina couldn’t pass him.
“It was an amazing effort, the horse is in fantastic order and interestingly Craig (Williams) came in after and said it’s the best Mr Brightside has felt for a very long time.
“He’s eight, but he’s acting like a young three, four-year-old.”
When asked about the decision to take off his blinkers this preparation, Hayes admitted that Mr Brightside’s Hong Kong form is why the Hayes stable decided to take the blinkers off.
“We just felt in Hong Kong he probably just overdid it,” Hayes admitted.
“He was just learning to over-race a bit and he wasn’t 100% relaxing, which was affecting him in the finish.
“So, the decision with the whole team was to take everything off, go back to normal, just treat him like we always have.
“It’s paid off, he’s been relaxing in his races, and he’s been finishing off, which we’ve seen in his last two starts.”
The co-trainer then revealed that the 10-time Group 1 winner will probably race in the Group 1 King Charles Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) for his grand final, this preparation.
“Thre’s obviously the Feehan (Stakes) in a couple weeks that he will be considered to run in,” Hayes said.
“We also have the option to go fresh – straight into the King Charles, with the thinking if we then go to the Champions Mile and if he pulls up well, you can consider backing up in the Orr (Stakes).
“I think that’s a beautiful five run prep for him.
“We’ll just see how he is; he’s pulled up well, we can consider the Feehan, but he might have a trail – we’ll just tick him over and keep him happy.
“Nothing set in stone, but his grand final will be the King Charles and the Champions Mile day.”
Hayes also admitted that while him and his brothers would love to win the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with Mr Brightside, they probably won’t run their star gelding in this year’s addition.
“He’ll be held in the nominations because stranger things happen,” Hayes admitted.
“When you do go back through his whole form, now that he’s an older horse it’s probably easier to keep him that little bit more fresher and don’t train him as hard.
“It’s definitely there, all three of us would love to win a Cox Plate, but you never know.
“If something goes wrong with the King Charles and we still have a nomination in the Cox Plate he could end up there – unlikely.”
Mr Brightside has become one of the most popular horses in Australia and Ben Hayes is extremely proud of the star Mr Brightside has turned into.
“It’s amazing to have a horse with his following, so many people follow him now,” Hayes exclaimed.
“The feeling that I get is everyone is happy to see him win. He is a champion and he’s one of those geldings that’s been around for a long time.
“He’s just versatile. Yesterday, that I think was one of his first races where he’s been able to dictate. The last race he was able to dictate was the Feehan three years ago and he won by 7 lengths.
“He’s versatile - he’s won on soft, heavy - race patterns don’t matter.
“Everyone just acknowledges it, which is really nice, you’ve just got to be proud of the horse.
“It’s a great feeling.”
