Six weeks after officially joining his brothers in the Lindsay Park family business, trainer and former AFL player Will Hayes broke through for his first group 1 victory when Mr Brightside claimed the Memsie Stakes.
If the football gods had smiled on Will Hayes, he could have been lining up for Carlton’s shot at the flag this year. Instead, he has his sights on one of racing’s holy grails.
As a footballer, Hayes was a hard-running wingman who played 13 AFL games for the Western Bulldogs and Carlton. His career appeared over after being delisted by the Dogs in 2021, but the Blues threw him a lifeline last year in the mid-season draft.AFL Photos / Getty Images “I was part of a great club, now I’m part of a great family business,” Hayes said. “Either way I couldn’t think of myself as a luckier person.
His next assignment is the group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600 metres at Flemington, after which a decision on a second tilt at the Cox Plate will be made.Jockey Craig Williams had Mr Brightside settled fifth and three-wide without cover from the outside gate of 14. The edge in fitness he had from his first-up win over the same course and distance a fortnight ago was vital as he headed Alligator Blood just before the 100 before holding off late charges from I Wish I Win and Princess Grace.
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