Mr Brightside tunes up for CF Orr Stakes return with Geelong trial win

Doncaster Mile winner Mr Brightside added his name to a long list of CF Orr Stakes contenders when he impressed at Tuesday’s Geelong trials.

Saturday week’s Group 1 CF Orr Stakes looks set to be a super contest with several of the nation’s racing elite aimed at the $750,000 event.

Group 1 performers I’m Thunderstruck, Jacquinot, Alligator Blood, Tuvalu and Mr Brightside sit at the top of early CF Orr Stakes betting at quotes under $10.

I’m Thunderstruck won the first heat of Tuesday’s Geelong trial session before Mr Brightside claimed the second trial with jockey Craig Williams aboard.

The duo clocked almost identical times when winning their respective heats but co-trainer JD Hayes said Mr Brightside could have got a bit more out of the trial but Lindsay Park was thrilled with the gelding’s progress towards the CF Orr Stakes.

“Coming here was more for mental stimulation because he paraded around and went around to the barriers with a field of horses around him,” Hayes, who trains Mr Brightside in partnership with his brother JD, said.

“He’s actually recovered a lot better from that trial than we thought.

“He could have probably done a little bit more than what we asked for but we were happy with his work.”

Mr Brightside last raced when third to Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Champions Mile last November.

Hayes said the NZ-bred galloper had not lost too much fitness during his time off, which would serve the five-year-old well in the CF Orr Stakes.

However, he said Lindsay Park had much richer targets in mind for Mr Brightside after the CF Orr Stakes.

“He’s got a bit of residual fitness but he has a long campaign and a grand final to peak at,” Hayes said.

“The CF Orr is not one of those grand finals, we have other ambitions with him as well this time in.”

The Lindsey Smith-trained Tuvalu won the third heat with jockey Jarrod Fry at his first public appearance since his second in the Champions Mile.

Tuvalu won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last October.