Lindsay Park Racing has had to deviate slightly from its initial plan with progressive miler Mr Brightside but the Hayes family operation remains focussed on the $5 million All-Star Mile.

The cancellation of Tuesday’s trials at Bendigo has forced co-trainer Ben Hayes to search for alternative trial or jumpout options, meaning the son of Bullbars he will step out in an 800-metre jumpout at Flemington on Friday morning.

“The original plan was to trial this Tuesday at Bendigo but they’ve decided not to put them on, so he’ll trial on Friday at Flemington,” Hayes said.

“He’ll trial, have another trial on the 11th and then he’ll run on the 19th. We’re looking at kicking off in the Elms Handicap, a Listed 1400-metre race, then go two weeks into the Blamey (Stakes, 1600m) and then hopefully the 2022 All Star Mile.”

The New Zealand-bred gelding enjoyed a stellar first campaign in Australia, which started with a narrow second placing in a Bendigo maiden, then took in a six-race winning streak before concluding with a fourth placing in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes when beaten less than half-a-length.

Nine starts have generated six wins, one placing and just under $360,000 in stakes, a tally Hayes expects Mr Brightside to add significantly to in coming months.

“We’re really happy with him, he looks like he’s really strengthened, he looks really healthy, and to do what he did in one prep – win six in a row and get narrowly beaten in a Group 1 – is very uncommon,” Hayes said.

“Sometimes from autumn to spring they don’t get a long break but he thrived through his break. He put on some good condition, but not too much, and he looks fantastic. He’s probably the best-looking horse in the yard at the moment and he should be because he’s the best horse.

“We Just need a little bit of improvement out of him and he’ll be very competitive in all the races he runs in.”

Mr Brightside is a $26 chance in TAB’s market on the All-Star Mile odds, which will be run at Flemington on March 19.