The Lindsay Park trio of Ben, Will and JD Hayes are upbeat about the condition of stable star Mr Brightside as he builds towards his spring return.
The multiple Group 1 winner is back in work and set to jump out in early August, ahead of a first-up tilt in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30.
He narrowly missed in that race last year before bouncing back to win the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Ben Hayes said the rising eight-year-old appears more forward this prep and is thriving after a solid gallop last Monday.
“His action is good, and he seems a happy horse,” Hayes said.
Mr Brightside is scheduled to jump out at Flemington on August 4, with another hit-out before race day.
Meanwhile, Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine is back in work at Euroa, targeting a fresh run in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) on AFL Grand Final eve.
Hayes confirmed the team is hoping for a slot in The Everest.
“The Manikato is two weeks before The Everest… then there’s the $3 million race in Sydney and the C F Orr Stakes (1400m) in mid-November,” he said.