Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes cannot ask much more of Mr Brightside.
The gelding is the winner of 16 races and almost $13 million in prize money and has put the Lindsay Park stable and their own names out in the racing world as trainers of Group 1 winners.
But Ben Hayes said there was one glaring omission from Mr Brightside's CV of six Group 1 wins, a Group 1 victory at 2000 metres.
Hayes hopes that will be rectified on Saturday in the Australian Cup at Flemington.
Mr Brightside was denied a win in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last spring, a defeat that still grates Hayes.
"He's probably a Cox Plate winner if that race was 2000, instead of 2040 metres," Hayes said.
"So, if we could tick off a Group 1 at 2000 metres, I would be very happy."
Hayes said Mr Brightside had recovered well from his second-place finish to Pride Of Jenni in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 16.
The gelding staged a big performance that day, coming from back in the field to run the Ciaron Maher-trained mare to two lengths.
The mare holds a two-one advantage over Mr Brightside after scoring in the Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington last spring while Mr Brightside took the honours in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last month.
