Mr Brightside is rightly claimed to be the best miler in Australia but his origins were far from the lofty heights that his racing career has taken him. He was sold as a yearling for $22000 but later passed in at the Ready To Run sales in NZ. He was later being sold for only $7750 on the online NZ sales platform Gavelhouse.
The gelding had his first race start at Matamata in NZ over 1400m in a midweek maiden on 10 February 2021, finishing fifth behind a Complacent mare in Comme Bella Fille. The winner was to later make her way to Australia where she won two races in NSW. Mr Brightside’s debut was watched in Bangkok by punter and bloodstock agent Wayne Ormond who was impressed by the run. Immediately he was on the phone to connections asking if they would sell the horse. Although met with a steadfast refusal from original trainer, Ralph Manning, Ormond was persistent and eventually raised the offer to a point where Manning succumbed. Things did not run smoothly for Ormond in trying to on-sell the gelding with plenty turning him down once they knew his breeding. Eventually, he convinced David Hayes in Hong Kong, to take a 40% stake in the horse on the proviso that it went to Lindsay Park.
Mr Brightside was duly sent to the Hayes’ stable in Australia and had
