Lady Brightside Set for Yarra Valley Debut

Racing fans will soon have the chance to see Lady Brightside in action, with the younger half-sister of star miler Mr Brightside expected to make her debut at Yarra Valley on Sunday. Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the three-year-old filly has been progressing well and looks ready for her first race.

Lady Brightside, sired by Darci Brahma, has already shown promise in her training, winning a 1000m jumpout on March 3. Her trainers have taken a patient approach with her, confident that she can succeed while acknowledging that she still has plenty of development ahead. Yarra Valley will be the stage for her highly anticipated debut this Sunday, where she will get her first real test under race conditions.

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young teamed up with syndicators First Light Racing to purchase Lady Brightside for $70,000 at a yearling sale in 2023. Since then, she has been building towards her racing career with steady progress in training. Yarra Valley’s track should provide a good opportunity for her to showcase her ability, with connections eager to see how she handles the occasion.

With strong support behind her, Lady Brightside heads to Yarra Valley ready to put her preparation to the test. Racing enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if she can make a strong first impression at Yarra Valley, setting the tone for what could be a promising future.

“She’s going to win races, but she’s still a bit immature,” Trent Busuttin said. “She’s got a lot of developing to do, and the owners have been very patient with her. She’s now at a point where she’s ready to go to the races, and she can knock off a maiden quick enough, but I think she’s going to be much better in another six to 12 months.”

While her trainers expect her to perform well early on, they believe she will improve significantly as she continues to grow.

Trent Busuttin and Young have planned a measured first preparation for Lady Brightside, allowing her to gain race experience without placing too much pressure on her at this stage.

“I think she’ll make the grade, but she’ll be a lot better in the future,” Trent Busuttin said. “We’d like to have her for a few seasons and win races with her.”

This approach highlights their long-term vision, allowing her to develop at a natural pace while still competing effectively in the meantime.

As the half-sister of Mr Brightside, Lady Brightside is naturally drawing attention ahead of her debut. Mr Brightside has built an outstanding career, becoming one of Australia’s leading milers with multiple Group 1 victories. While comparisons between the siblings are inevitable, Trent Busuttin and Young are keen for Lady Brightside to establish her own reputation.

“She’s a different horse, and we’re not expecting her to be another Mr Brightside,” Trent Busuttin said. “But she’s got a good attitude, and she’s shown enough to suggest she’ll pay her way on the racetrack.”

There is much chatter in the First Light racing community regarding the fact that Lady Brightside will make her first appearance this Sunday at Yarra Valley. With a promising stable behind her and with the support of First Light Racing, early signs in her preparation have been strong. Given the conditions of Yarra Valley, it should set a great foundation for the start of her career, and there are high hopes for an encouraging first-up performance.

Lady Brightside has had plenty of support over her journey to the race from a strong ownership group led by First Light Racing. The trial form suggests she has plenty to offer, and Yarra Valley will be the first assessment of that. Racegoers and connections alike will be eager to see how she handles the pressures of race day and whether she can stamp her mark.