Euroa’s Lindsay Park Racing’s stable star was made to earn his consecutive win in the Group One Doncaster Mile (1600m) with a gutsy effort on a rain-affected and Heavy 8 track.
The five-year-old gelding made history as he became just the fourth horse in three decades to do the double in the lucrative Group One race.
It was a memorable day for brothers Ben and JD Hayes as their stable’s champion miler took his career earnings past $8 million.
Mr Brightside ($6) crossed the winning post a neck in front of My Oberon ($31), with Nugget ($21) in third.
His win on Saturday backed up his Group One All-Star Mile triumph last month.
“We’ll never forget him, but he’s got so much to go which is exciting,” Ben Hayes said post-race.
Jockey Zac Purton gave Mr Brightside a peach of a ride from barrier two.
Purton positioned the gelding just off the pace on the rail before a gap opened in the straight.
Despite Purton saying his ride “laboured” down the straight on the rain-soaked track, Mr Brightside was able to do enough to etch his name in the history books.
“We just drew the perfect gate (barrier two) and had the perfect run,” Purton said.
“It’s not easy to win one Doncaster; it’s very hard to win two, especially on testing ground like this. All the credit has got to go to the stable.”
The Euroa-based stable’s Gentleman Roy finished 11th and is set for a stint at the upcoming Queensland Racing Carnival.
Mr Brightside could return to the races as soon as Saturday for the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Meanwhile, Shepparton product Liam Howley came agonisingly close to claiming a magical Group One win on Saturday.
Howley’s talented stayer Virtuous Circle ran second in the Australian Derby (2400m), half-a-length behind the winner Major Beel.
10°C