He might be a champion, but at eight years of age, I reckon Father Time is catching up with Mr Brightside – and I don’t see him finishing top four in Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
He’s the people’s horse, he’s tough, and for the Hayes team he’s been about as reliable as they come. But I’m planting a flag here: I’m betting all around him. His jump-outs have been moderate at best, and to my eye he just hasn’t come back the same this prep. Maybe I’ll end up with egg on my face, but I’d rather make a bold call than sit on the fence.
Mr Brightside Flemington jump out (all white jacket) 🚨😬 pic.twitter.com/bdnQSUsGdE
— Racing Previews (@Racing_Previews) August 14, 2025
So who am I with? Another Wil is the one. He maps perfectly, has trialled up a treat, and crucially is now proven at weight-for-age. He’s on the up, and this spring could be his breakout.
The danger is Tom Kitten – he should’ve rolled Mr Brightside in the Futurity before taking out the All-Star Mile. His trials for Team Freedman have been electric and he looks primed to explode fresh.
Beyond that, Treasuremoment has been burning the turf at the trials and has the X-factor to measure up. And if conditions fall her way, Fangirl has the lethal turn of foot to blow the race wide open.
The bottom line? I don’t see Mr Brightside in the top four. At eight, maybe Father Time is finally taking a toll. I’ll be siding with Another Wil and Tom Kitten, with Treasuremoment and Fangirl the wildcards.
It’s a cracking spring opener – and if Mr Brightside makes me look silly, Betsy might be in the market for a new Victorian form analyst.
