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Seymour Cup aim for Mr Brightside; Belardo Boy breaks maiden ranks

Seymour Cup aim for Mr Brightside

Kiwi import Mr Brightside  brought up his fifth consecutive win when successful over 1630m at Flemington on Wednesday. 

The four-year-old gelding was initially trained in New Zealand by Ralph Manning for whom he ran fifth in his sole New Zealand start before heading to Australia and joining Ben and JD Hayes' Lindsay Park Racing operation.

He has since had six starts from his new quarters, with his only defeat when finishing second at Bendigo at his first Australian run.

Ridden by Craig Williams, Mr Brightside was prominent throughout and scored by a length under 60kg topweight. 

Mr Brightside will be aimed at the A$200,000 Listed Seymour Cup (1600m) on October 10. 

"I got on him at the right time," said Williams, who has partnered him in all five of his wins.

"Credit to Ben and JD, he is a really exciting horse but they have really placed this horse perfectly. 

"It is not easy to win five in a row. They are still shaping this horse and they are getting the best out of him and using every rating point they can on the way up to where he is going to be.

"He is going to be a black-type horse in the very near future."

Belardo Boy breaks maiden ranks

Belardo Boy broke through for his maiden win at Wanganui on Thursday when fresh-up in the Take It Easy Tours 1200.

He had three unplaced runs as a juvenile before returning a stronger horse as a three-year-old, showcased by his two trial wins prior to Thursday's triumph.

"He has strengthened up a lot this time in," trainer Lisa Latta said. "He went shin sore a couple of times last time in, he has just taken a little while to develop. He is a very fast horse."

Latta believes there is plenty instore for Belardo Boy but a question mark still surrounds his suitability for the mile distance of the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November, for which he holds a nomination.

"He has still got some improvement in him, his coat still isn't quite there yet," Latta said.

"I don't know if he will see a mile out but we will press on and get him up over 1400m and get a line on where we are at with him."

Meanwhile, Latta is looking forward to lining up stablemate Rock Island Line in the Gr.3 Boehringer Ingerlheim Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

The seven-year-old gelding has been in a purple patch of form, including a second placing behind subsequent Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) runner-up Spring Tide over 1400m at Wanganui earlier this month.

While pleased with his form, Latta is keeping a close eye on the weather, hoping rain stays away ahead of the weekend.

"We wouldn't like the track too heavy," she said. "His form over a mile isn't overly great but he does save his best for Awapuni.

"He is racing in career best form so we are coming in at the right time."