Mr Brightside and Mr Roy in good form for 1400m Memsie Stakes at Caulfield

Mr. Brightside and Gentleman Roy have been regulars for Lindsay Park since David Hayes returned to Hong Kong.

When Ben and JD Hayes took over the running of Lindsay Park and Will joined training at the start of the 2023-24 season, horse numbers declined.

A clever placement, not aiming too high and starting too early, saw Mr. Brightside and Gentleman Roy quickly achieve their marks and eventually move up to a higher level.

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Mr Brightside won Group 1 six times for Lindsay Park, while Gentleman Roy was cruelly robbed of success when he came under suspicion after protests.

On Saturday they meet in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, the opening Group 1 of the Melbourne Spring Carnival, where they will take on Pride Of Jenni.

Ben Hayes is counting on the racing fitness of eight-year-old Gentleman Roy to prove key, while the stable hopes Mr Brightside’s fighting qualities will come to the fore.

Hayes said Gentleman Roy deserves his chance in the Group 1 race having won the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on his previous start. Last year Mr Brightside won the race en route to Memsie glory.

“It will be the sixth run for the prep, and he won the traditional run-in where the winner usually comes through,” Hayes said.