Mr Brightside to take on the locals in Hong Kong Champions Mile in April

The Hayes brothers will use local jumpouts to offset a seven-week gap between runs for Mr Brightside’s first crack at overseas competition in the Group 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong next month.

Brad Waters

2 min read

April 1, 2025 - 6:30AM

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Punters + Racing Victoria - This is how we Spring series (Episode 1)

In episode 1 of this five-part series, Alex Donnelly visits Will & J.D Hayes at their Lindsay Park property to see how they prepare for Spring, what it means to them and what they do in their spare time.

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5	codesports.com.au09:47 Punters + Racing Victoria - This is how we Spring series (Episode 1)

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Punters + Racing Victoria - This is how we Spring series (Episode 1)

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Punters + Racing Victoria - This is how we Spring series (Episode 1)

In episode 1 of this five-part series, Alex Donnelly visits Will & J.D Hayes at their Lindsay Park property to see how they prepare for Spring, what it means to…

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Star miler Mr Brightside is likely to have two local jumpouts before embarking on his first overseas mission to Hong Kong later this month.

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have aimed the nine-time Group 1 winner at the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 27.

Mr Brightside went down narrowly to Tom Kitten in the All-Star Mile at his last appearance on March 3, leaving the stable to manage the seven-year-old through a seven-week gap between runs.

Ben Hayes the camp had mapped out Mr Brightside’s lead-up to the Champions Mile.

“His flights are all booked in,” he said.

“He’ll most likely have two jumpouts here before he goes.”

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Mr Brightside will have his first international outing as a rising eight-year-old.

Hayes said there were plenty of reasons to delay travelling with the winner of more than $17 million in prizemoney.

“It’s really exciting because it’s always been something we’ve wanted to do but with the prizemoney being so good in Australia, there’s so many opportunities here,” he said.

Hayes noted the retirement of local champion Golden Sixty made Mr Brightside’s task easier but said Hong Kong Mile winner Voyage Bubble could provide tough opposition.

WHAT A SUPERSTAR!! Mr Brightside with a stunning victory in the $3 million Champions Mile. Craig Williams with a peach of a ride.

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“I think Voyage Bubble has got a run in the mile so that will be a good clash as he’s one of the top-rated horses in the world at the moment,” Hayes said.

“Apart from that, it might be a good year to go because the superstar Golden Sixty is not around any more.”

Hayes said the timing of the Champions Mile made the Hong Kong option attractive as it gave the stable plenty of time to spell the grand campaigner ahead of a 2025 spring campaign.

“The beauty of Hong Kong that we‘ll have time to get him back and target a spring campaign with him,” Hayes said.

“There’s those great races like the King Charles (Stakes) and races on the final day (at Flemington) so we can get him ready for those types of races.”

Originally published as Mr Brightside to take on the locals in Hong Kong Champions Mile in April