Mr Brightside continues to tick all the right boxes for trainers Ben and J D Hayes with the hope he will tick another at Sandown. 

The Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) on Sunday is a mini 'Cox Plate' with most of the main players for that Group 1 contest down to run on Sunday. 

The one big name missing is Cox Plate favourite Anamoe, but Ben Hayes said Sunday's race will give the Lindsay Park team an idea of where Mr Brightside sits in the pecking order. 

"It will be very interesting. It will give everyone an idea of where their horses are at," Hayes said. 

"I would imagine everyone has improvement to come, but we're really happy with our horse. 

'He looks like he's improved again out of his impressive win last start. He's ticked all the boxes and the next box will be to see if he runs a strong 1800 metres." 

Mr Brightside won the Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 3 and is unbeaten in two starts this campaign, both at Group 2 level. 

The gelding won the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in the autumn and now Hayes hopes he can rise to Group 1 level at weight-for-age. 

Sunday's race will be Mr Brightside's first beyond 1600m, but Hayes does not see it as a problem. 

"You don't run the fastest last 600 metres of the entire meeting and be really strong through the line," Hayes said. 

"Generally, that's a good guide going forward and if you go through his breeding, he's bred to get further as well. 

"If he can run 2000 metres and keep the turn of foot that he has, he will be a very good horse." 

Hayes is looking forward to Sunday's race but admits the nerves will be out in full force. 

"You race the best against the best and that's what people want to see. I'll be nervous but I'll look back at that race in years to come," Hayes said. 

"It's going to be a fantastic race."