Ten-time Group One winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has been ruled out of the autumn and faces minor surgery.
Prepared by the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Mr Brightside has won 20 of his 48 starts and amassed $18.9 million in prizemoney since crossing the Tasman after a luckless fifth in his sole start for Kiwi trainer Ralph Manning.
“A routine check-up has found that our beloved Mr Brightside has a very small chip in his left-fore fetlock,” announced Lindsay Park.
“He is sound and his usual happy self but best possible practice for his wellbeing, comfort and long-term soundness is to have minor surgery to remove the chip.
“Afterwards he will enjoy a lovely long VIP holiday at Lindsay Park Euroa. This means he will unfortunately miss the upcoming Autumn racing carnival but absolutely all that matters is his wellbeing and we look forward to seeing him back in the Spring.”
Mr Brightside enjoyed another successful spring, winning the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for the third year in succession, while also finishing runner-up to Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 King Charles III (1600m).