Lindsay Park trainers Ben and Jd Hayes are back at Sandown chasing a Group 1 win having thought they had won a race at the top level two weeks ago.
The Hayes brothers were left gutted when Gentleman Roy had the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes at Sandown on February 11 taken off them following a protest from second across the line, Jacquinot.
Gentleman Roy and stablemate Mr Brightside, who finished fifth in the Orr Stakes, were both to run in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday looking to turn around Lindsay Park’s fortunes, but Mr Brightside will be the stable’s sole representative.
In a further twist for the Hayes brothers, an untimely foot abscess ruled Gentleman Roy out of Saturday’s contest, although they remain confident the gelding will be right to contest the Group 3 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday week.
Both Mr Brightside and Gentleman Roy are in the hunt for a berth in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 18 with the Futurity and Blamey winners guaranteed a start.
With four days remaining until voting closes, Mr Brightside sits fifth on the public vote while Gentleman Roy is outside the top 10 in 13th spot.
In his first-up run in the Orr Stakes, Mr Brightside was forced to go back from his outside draw, but with a better barrier on Saturday, Ben Hayes is expecting the gelding to take a more prominent position.
“He has come beautifully from the first-up run,” Hayes said.
“We didn’t want him to have a gut-buster first-up, so we had to go back, but he ran the fastest sectionals for the meeting.
“Second-up last prep he led and won by five lengths, so from the better draw he should be a lot closer.”
Mr Brightside won his first two starts last campaign, scoring in the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield before jumping to 1600m to win the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Hayes said he does not see staying at 1400m being a problem on Saturday.
“He’s got an electric turn of foot, but after this he’ll be looking for the mile,” Hayes said.
“There are some good horses in the race, and I respect them all, but he’s taken the next step this prep.”