Tag Archive for: Chris Hayes

Tributes pour in for the Aga Khan, breeder of ‘almost perfect equine athletes’

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Chris Hayes paid tribute to the “almost perfect equine athletes” developed by the Aga Khan through generations of breeding, having partnered Ezeliya to the famed owner-breeder’s final Classic success in last year’s Oaks.

Like so many of the Aga Khan’s great horses, Ezeliya was homebred from a line which has been in his family’s care for decades.

The previous season, Hayes also rode Tahiyra to an Irish 1,000 Guineas win and multiple Group One victories in the famous green silks with red epaulettes.

The jockey said: “It’s obviously the end of an era, the Aga Khan and the whole team have been nothing but supportive of me; with his help, it’s taken my career to another level.

Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes with winning connections following the Oaks success of Ezeliya
Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes with winning connections following the Oaks success of Ezeliya (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club)

“I’m proud that I was associated with those colours and I’m proud that I’ve been able to win some big races.

“To ride his last Classic winner, that is a bit extra special as well.

“It goes without saying how good their pedigrees are, how they just keep improving and evolving.

“It was special to win an Oaks and I was lucky to have Tahiyra before that, plus I was associated with Tarnawa in her early days as well.

“I’ve ridden some of his very, very good fillies and you could just feel it in them – the effort that has gone in through generations and generations to get them to almost perfect equine athletes.

“It was definitely a pleasure to be associated with them and every time you put on those colours, whether it was a maiden or a Group One or a Classic or whatever it was, I always felt proud to wear them anywhere.

“It was a privilege to have anything to do with them.”

The Aga Khan with the late Pat Smullen following Irish Derby glory for Harzand
The Aga Khan with the late Pat Smullen following Irish Derby glory for Harzand (Pat Healy/PA)

Dermot Weld said the Aga Khan – who died on Tuesday evening at the age of 88 – left an “indelible mark on the sport”.

Weld trained some truly great horses in the famous green and red colours, winning the Derby, Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Turf in the process.

In recent years the likes of Tarnawa and Tahiyra helped both trainer and owner remain at the top of the game and Weld says he will be a huge loss to the sport.

“I am deeply saddened to hear that His Highness the Aga Khan has passed away and I would like to send my sincere condolences to Princess Zahra and family at this incredibly difficult time,” said Weld in a statement.

“It has been a great honour and pleasure to train for His Highness and we enjoyed many great days together.

Chris Hayes celebrates winning the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes with Tahiyra
Chris Hayes celebrates winning the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes with Tahiyra (Damien Eagers/PA)

“We won 10 major Group One races in four countries and were successful in Classic races, like the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby, which were obviously so important to him as one of the world’s most influential and successful breeders of thoroughbreds.

“I was also fortunate to train three champions for him, including Harzand, who was the champion three-year-old colt in Ireland. Tahiyra, also a Classic winner at three, who was the two-year-old champion filly of Europe and Tarnawa who was the joint highest-rated older filly in the world after winning the Prix Vermeille and the Breeders’ Cup Turf and who was only beaten half a length in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“He took great interest in all of his horses and played not just a huge part in my career but left an indelible mark on the sport and the breeding industry. He will be very much missed by all of us.”

Paying tribute to the Aga Khan, Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of HH the Aga Khan.

“His Highness was an iconic figure in the global racing industry. He was recognised the world over as a champion breeder and a champion owner and he made his mark in many countries with Ireland playing a significant role in his family’s renowned operation for over 100 years.

“On so many levels, Irish racing and breeding will forever be in his debt. We were honoured to present His Highness with Horse Racing Ireland’s Contribution to the Industry Award last December. We hope that recognition went some way towards acknowledging his immense contribution, wonderful generosity and unwavering support of our industry for so many years.”

Alain de Royer-Dupre provided the Aga Khan with two Arc winners in Dalakhani and Zarkava but he is under no illusions about which was the best.

“I trained for him for 42 or 43 years,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“I will never forget those two Arc wins, especially Zarkava because she came from Petite Etoile, the filly of the Aga Khan’s herself.

“Zarkava was the best, I’m not sure Dalakhani was of the same quality. He was a good Arc winner, but for me he was not of the same level.

“I had great admiration for His Highness because he worked so hard and he had so many other responsibilities.

“He was passionate about the racing but especially as a breeder. He was interested in identifying the level of each horse.

“It was easy to work with him because he would only make a decision once he had all the information to hand. He could judge a gallop in the morning, he had a very good eye for that.

“We had a very good connection. He leaves a big legacy because of the quality of his mares, they will be around for many years.

“He was the best owner you could have, when they are a breeder they understand everything, he never put you under too much pressure.”



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Hayes savouring every moment of Oaks glory with Ezeliya

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Chris Hayes is no stranger to Classic success on home soil but thoroughly relished Epsom glory aboard Ezeliya as another Dermot Weld filly provided him with a moment to savour in the Betfred Oaks.

A key player in veteran trainer Weld’s operation, the 36-year-old opened his Classic account back in 2013 in the Irish St Leger aboard the Rosewell House master’s Voleuse De Coeurs.

Although big-race victories aboard the likes of Sole Power, Awtaad and Search For A Song kept the Group One races coming, it is in the past three seasons where Hayes has established his position as Weld’s go-to man on the big occasion.

First came Homeless Songs who powered to the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2022, while a year later Tahiyra would provide a repeat.

Now Hayes might arguably have the best of them all as an ally in Ezeliya, as he recorded his first British Classic in somewhat facile fashion, with the rider never having a “moment’s doubt” about the result in the closing stages.

“It was copybook, it was like a bit of work, she relaxed beautifully did everything well and made me look good,” he said.

“She settled really well going down to the start, she settled that well the other jockeys were commenting on her going down to the start.

“She was the first horse loaded into the stalls and she was quiet, she jumped well, relaxed. I didn’t want to light her up going up the hill and I was tracked out wider than ideal, but it was a fresh strip of ground and I was getting a lovely bit of cover from Hector (Crouch, on You Got To Me).

“I angled out sooner than I wanted to, but I could feel Tom (Marquand, on eventual third War Chimes) coming down my outside and I wanted to keep the rhythm she had. She moved forward quicker than I thought she was going to and I never had a moment’s doubt. Once she got to the furlong pole I knew there was nothing going to come and catch her at the finish.

“It took me right to the end of the pull-up area to pull-up and that is probably because I was celebrating as well, but she had a good bit of petrol left and was brilliant.”

It was just Hayes’ second Oaks ride after subsequent Breeders’ Cup heroine Tarnawa’s down-the-field finish in 2011, and it is somewhat fitting it is in the same famous Aga Khan silks that the Irishman is now thriving on a regular basis.

Tahiyra’s almost flawless career highlighted Hayes’ cool head on the big occasion and he is now a much more experienced pilot than the one who was cruelly denied Derby glory aboard Kevin Prendergast’s Madhmoon in 2019.

Jockey Chris Hayes (left) and trainer Dermot Weld with the Oaks trophy
Jockey Chris Hayes (left) and trainer Dermot Weld with the Oaks trophy (Steven Paston for the Jockey Club/PA)

“I had a nightmare here four or five years ago on Madhmoon, but that makes up for that,” continued Hayes.

“I thought I had the race won and Seamie Heffernan (aboard Anthony Van Dyck) came down my inside. It’s not a Derby but an Oaks, it’s as good as I’m going to get.

“It’s unbelievable to ride for the connections I’m riding for and the faith they have put in me, not only today but every day. It feels like I’m finally getting on good horses and I hope I’m doing it justice.

“It’s hard to compare horses, but she is definitely right up there (as the best I’ve ridden).”

Hayes let out a celebration fitting of the Classic honours he had just secured crossing the line and although trying his best to remain the level-headed jockey he has become, could not resist letting out an adrenaline-fuelled roar.

He added: “I actually said if she wins I will be really cool, calm and collected like Mick Kinane, but this is very unique and it was just a surge of adrenaline the last 50 yards – I had to do something.”



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Tahiyra proves far too good in Matron Stakes

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Tahiyra stamped her class on the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown with a fourth Group One victory for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.

Off the track on a mid-season break since impressing in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Weld had brought the Aga Khan-owned three-year-old along steadily for her autumn targets.

Hayes had her in the perfect spot throughout and having entered the turn for home in fourth position, she arrived on the quarters of Zarinsk still on the bridle with only Just Beautiful to catch.

She soon quickened past Paddy Twomey’s runner and Hayes was able to enjoy the final half a furlong, saluting the crowd as she crossed the line.

Tom Clover’s Rogue Millennium outran her 12-1 odds, closing into second, narrowly catching Just Beautiful, but neither were a match for the 5-6 favourite as she won by an eased-down length and a quarter.

“No matter how many Group Ones you’re fortunate in life to win, that will always go down as a special one for us,” said Weld.

“All the pressure was on this filly, she’d won the (Irish) Guineas and won at Royal Ascot. Some of the other fillies she’d beaten had fallen by the wayside, but she keeps winning.

“Leopardstown has been very lucky for me and the way to ride Leopardstown, like most tracks, is to just keep it simple, to ride her with confidence.

“We knew there would be a good pace on, they are very good fillies and it was an excellent renewal of the race, I’m sure the time is good. She’s a very talented filly.

“She was eight-10 kilos heavier today than when she won at Royal Ascot and I was just very happy when I saw Chris cruising there on the outside.

“I said to just take your time and gradually get there, that’s what he did.

Chris Hayes is interviewed post-race
Chris Hayes is interviewed post-race (Damien Eagers/PA)

“She’s an amazing animal and I’ve a wonderful team and it’s great for them. We’ve lots to look forward to with her.

“I said it was one day at a time with her and we’ll see how she comes out of the race. Obviously the Breeder’s Cup has to be a possibility and a decision will be made on whether she’s kept in training for next year. There is lots to looks forward to.”

Hayes added: “When you get opportunities like this, you can’t miss. There’s a lot of faith and trust put into me for a filly like this and connections like these, Moyglare Stud and team Rosewell – you have to get it right when it counts.”



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‘Stronger’ Tahiyra returns to action in Matron test

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All eyes will be on Tahiyra when the brilliant filly returns to action in the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Sensational when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes 12 months ago, Dermot Weld’s charge was narrowly beaten by Mawj as a hot favourite for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May – but has since added to her Group One tally with victories in the Irish Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Having enjoyed a midsummer break, the daughter of Siyouni returns as one of the star attractions on the opening afternoon of the Irish Champions Festival and jockey Chris Hayes is hopeful she can pick up where she left off.

“I’m looking forward to it, we haven’t seen her since Royal Ascot so I’d be looking forward to her lining up,” he said.

“Hopefully the ground will be nice and I suppose we’ve an adequate draw – she’s drawn fairly low (stall four of 13). I haven’t gone through it in great detail yet but I presume with that amount of runners there should be a decent level of pace, so fingers crossed.

“She just finds everything so easy – she finds going fast easy, she finds going slow easy and there are no issues or anything with her.

“In a race, no matter what pace they’re going, it feels like slow motion when you’re sitting on her, so hopefully that will be the same on Saturday.”

While Hayes feels Tahiyra has improved physically, he admits she is unlikely to be at peak fitness ahead of her first competitive outing in nearly three months.

He added: “I’ve sat on her plenty and she has strengthened up quite well – she’s a stronger filly than she was earlier in the year.

“She hasn’t run in a while so she’ll obviously come and improve as her autumn campaign progresses, but she’s definitely ready to start and put her best foot forward, so hopefully we can get the right result and go forward from there.”

One of the biggest dangers to Tahiyra is her older stablemate Homeless Songs, aboard whom Hayes won last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas.

The Frankel filly has not been seen in competitive action since pushing Buckaroo close in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown in early April, but Hayes is nevertheless wary of the threat she poses in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Chris Hayes winning last year's Irish 1,000 Guineas
Homeless Songs and Chris Hayes winning last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said: “She hasn’t run in a long time, but she ran Buckaroo quite close in Leopardstown and she’s in good shape and looks well.

“She’s drawn right beside Tahiyra, so tactically it will be interesting, but my filly is quite versatile and Homeless Songs is quite versatile.

“We both like to come off a fast pace and I’d imagine with a bit of luck in running the two fillies should definitely represent the boss and ourselves well.”

Homeless Songs is one of two runners declared for owners Moyglare Stud Farm along with the Paddy Twomey-trained Just Beautiful, who notched her first win since being bought out of Ivan Furtado’s yard two years ago in the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh in May.

“Homeless Songs is in good shape, she might be a week or two short and if Leopardstown don’t water and it stays as hot and sunny as this and the ground is fast she probably won’t run, but she’s declared and we’ll just see,” said Moyglare’s Fiona Craig.

“Just Beautiful loves fast ground. She got a splint after we bought her and it’s taken a while to get her right, but her last run was her first run on fast ground for us and she did it well.

“She will suit Leopardstown and Paddy has been training her for this for quite a long time.

“Obviously, Tahiyra gets 5lb from both of ours, but at the end of the day, if you’re not in you can’t win, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Aidan O’Brien fits Meditate with blinkers for the first time, while three-time course winner Zarinsk must be respected for trainer Ger Lyons.

British raiders Rogue Millennium (Tom Clover), Olivia Maralda (Roger Varian) and Prosperous Voyage (Ralph Beckett) add further spice to the one-mile contest.



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Coeur shows plenty of heart to claim Galway gold

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Coeur D’or swooped late to claim a head verdict in the featured Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap on day two of the Galway Festival.

Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Chris Hayes, Coeur D’or was a winner on his penultimate run at Leopardstown, but he was allowed to go off a 14-1 shot in the handicap highlight.

The 18-runner contest proved typically competitive and it looked as though Dunum was going to take the win two furlongs out, only for No More Porter to battle his way to the front inside the distance.

However, Hayes had launched Coeur D’or down the outside and he grabbed the lead in the shadow of the post to take the prize in a photo, with Dunum a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Weld said: “He is a very consistent horse, this was the plan and he delivered. He had been running very consistently all year and is a brave horse.

“I was worried about the ground as he is very effective on a slightly quicker surface. A mile is his trip but he was a very immature horse in his early days and took a long time to come to hand but patience paid dividends.

“He has two great owners in Stephen O’Connor and Mark Phelan and I’m delighted for them.”

Sharjah returned to the scene of one of his finest hours to make a seamless transition to fences in the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase.

Winner of the Galway Hurdle in 2018, he has gone on to become a multiple Grade One scorer, triumphing in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting on four occasions.

He has also been second in two Champion Hurdles so had a clear class edge over his rivals, but he was making his debut over fences at the age of 10.

Always handy under Paul Townend, reunited with him for the first time since the 2021 Champion Hurdle, Sharjah jumped soundly throughout and came clear under no pressure to win by 11 lengths as the 1-4 favourite.

Mullins said: “He was very smooth and jumped like he did at home. Every time I schooled him, he always looked very capable and confident over fences and showed that today. If he wasn’t good, we wouldn’t have gone chasing with him, but he was so natural at home and did today what he has done at home.

“In today’s race he was meeting a lot less competition compared to what he had been meeting over hurdles for the past four or five years – none of those horses had ever run in a Grade One hurdle – and he enjoyed it.

“I imagine he’ll stay to winners’ races now and he would get nice ground for the Drinmore.”



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Tahiyra takes Coronation triumph for Weld

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Chris Hayes celebrated his first Royal Ascot winner as Tahiyra landed the odds in the Coronation Stakes.

Veteran trainer Dermot Weld has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the filly and having gone down narrowly in the Newmarket Guineas, she made amends in the Irish equivalent.

With her Newmarket conqueror Mawj absent on this occasion, it was left to Meditate to take the field along but Ryan Moore set only a steady pace with Tahiyra settled in last.

Not surprisingly the field bunched up two furlongs out, with Tahiyra needing to pass them all and while she came across the eventual second Remarquee when quickening up, the result was confirmed after a stewards’ inquiry.

Tahiyra (8-13 favourite) crossed the line a length clear of Remarquee, with Sounds Of Heaven a further head back in third.

Weld, who saddled his first Royal Ascot winner 50 years ago with Klairvimy in the 1973 King Edward VII Stakes, said: “I though she put in an excellent performance, I think she was a worthy winner.

Remarquee (white hat) got going too late
Remarquee (white hat) got going too late (David Davies/PA)

“With a very small field I always knew it was going to be a tactical race and she has so much pace. She’s a very talented filly.

“She was very brave and she got a lovely ride from Chris the way the race turned out, he rode her hands and heels and she was a very deserving winner.

“The plan was always to give her a nice holiday, a nice break. She’s had a very busy spring and early summer and she needs a nice break now and we’ll look at a programme for her in the autumn.”

On stepping up in trip later in the season, he said: “It will be considered, it is a possibility.

“She is learning more about racing and getting more professional. I thought she won fair and square.

King Charles III speaks to jockey Chris Hayes
King Charles III speaks to jockey Chris Hayes (David Davies/PA)

“Her sister (Tarnawa) was unbelievably tough and stayed really well, won the Breeders’ Cup Turf and won those two very good Group Ones in France for me and was just beat a neck in the Arc when the ground was too dead for her on the day. A brilliant racemare, her sister and this one is equally as good – but they are different. This one has more pace.

“I enjoy so much training these fillies. I know the families and do my best training them.

“I was a bit concerned in the early part of the race, but he did the right thing and reverted to Plan B, which came into action, just take your time – it is a long straight at Ascot. She has brilliant speed and he should hold on to her – and that’s what he did.

“She is a lovely tempered filly, a lovely animal to deal with. She has her moments, like all fillies – she is a very talented filly.”

Chris Hayes gets his hands on the trophy
Chris Hayes gets his hands on the trophy (David Davies/PA)

Hayes said: “It wasn’t straightforward. She lost her hind leg coming out of the gate. I had to go to Plan B, because she got a little bit keen, which was unlike her.

“They were going very steady, so she had to be good to pick them up, running at a quickening pace. She idled a bit – I just can’t wait to ride her in a true-run race, it was so stop-start.

“The boss told me to ride her with confidence. She is the fastest filly in the race and I just rode her like she was the best.

“The stewards inquiry actually had nothing to do with me – the inside horses concertinaed.”

Asked what it meant to win a Group One at the Royal meeting, he added: “In these (Aga Khan) colours? It is the stuff of dreams. I still can’t believe it!”

Ralph Beckett was more than satisfied with Remarquee's run
Ralph Beckett was more than satisfied with Remarquee’s run (Mike Egerton/PA)

Ralph Beckett was thrilled with the effort of Remarquee and said: “When she got rolling, the gap was closing.

“You don’t see many of ours in a sheepskin noseband, there’s a reason she’s wearing a sheepskin noseband – she’s still green.

“She’s run her legs off, she’s lost a lot of ground and she’s run on again. She made up a length in the last half-furlong at least.

“I’m very proud, I’m not disappointed with her in the slightest.

“The Guineas was a non-event, so she’s only had two starts, and she’s a slow learner.”

Remarquee’s rider Rob Hornby added: “It was a slowly-run race and it’s just nice to see that she’s stepped up, she’s put that run at Newmarket behind her. It probably came a little bit early in the season after a hard run in the Fred Darling.

“I’m delighted, she was a bit unlucky in running. She was aways finishing off her race slowly, we were quite far out as well.”



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Chris Hayes relishing Classic opportunity with Tahiyra

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Chris Hayes is determined to enjoy the fact he is riding the favourite Tahiyra in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.

Not seen since a scintillating display in the Moyglare Stud Stakes on just her second start, the unbeaten Dermot Weld-trained filly has headed the market for the Classic all winter.

There had been some doubt as to whether she would be ready in time for Newmarket, but Weld confirmed earlier in the week she would take her chance and Hayes is understandably delighted.

“It’s great she’s been declared. Obviously she was very impressive last year and you’d have to be looking forward to her. To get the chance to ride the favourite in any English or Irish Classic is special, so we’ll enjoy it and hope for a bit of luck,” he said.

“Before Galway, she just felt a like a special filly in her work. She’d never blow you away but she just felt different, everything came with an ease to her. She excited me in Galway and when I got off that day, I felt she could potentially be a Group One filly.

“But if you’d said to me she would go and win the Moyglare next time, I wouldn’t have believed you and anybody being honest would say the same – to take that step up and put a field of that quality to bed with 100 yards to go, I don’t think anybody would have thought that.

“She looked terribly exciting that day, she seems to have wintered well so I’m looking forward to it.

“If I’m honest, since I got off her at the Curragh I’ve been looking forward to her next race tremendously. I just love riding her as she’s a pleasure to do anything with.”

Hayes won the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Weld’s Homeless Songs last year and is savouring the link with another potential star.

Chris Hayes celebrates winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Tahiyra
Chris Hayes celebrates winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Tahiyra (Donall Farmer/PA)

“I’m very excited, to get on any favourite in a Classic is rare, for me it’s the stuff of dreams so we’ll see what we can do. She’s in good shape and she’s trained by the right man, hopefully things go well,” he said.

“Meditate ran her race in the Moyglare, I know they said the ground was slower than ideal for her but we drew a long way clear of the third. Her form is rock solid.

“Obviously, like the boss has said, there’s always the question if they train on from two to three, but on her home work she appears to have and she’s just a pleasure. She’ll never get you excited going up the gallops but she turns it on at the races.

“That Moyglare form is rock solid and I certainly wouldn’t swap her for anything else.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Meditate was subsequently second in the Cheveley Park Stakes and then went to Keeneland where she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf over a mile.

Lezoo is the mount of Frankie Dettori
Lezoo is the mount of Frankie Dettori (David Davies/PA)

The winner of the Cheveley Park was the Ralph Beckett-trained Lezoo, the mount of Frankie Dettori, but she will be stepping up two furlongs in distance.

According to the market, Beckett’s first string is the Fred Darling winner Remarquee, who will be ridden by Rob Hornby.

Saeed bin Suroor’s Mawj will team up with Oisin Murphy for the first time after winning twice at Meydan earlier in the year.

In the first of those victories she beat Dream Of Love, while in the second she was a long way clear of Fairy Cross. Both of those are trained by Charlie Appleby and will attempt to gain their revenge.

Mammas Girl was an impressive winner of the Nell Gwyn
Mammas Girl was an impressive winner of the Nell Gwyn (Tim Goode/PA)

Mammas Girl was impressive in the Nell Gwyn for Richard Hannon and is another unbeaten contender and she will be joined be stablemate Powerdress

Polly Pott, now with Ben Pauling following the retirement of Harry Dunlop, is another Group winner in the race.

Caernarfon will attempt to give Jack Channon a Classic winner in his first season, Matilda Picotte represents Kieran Cotter while Billy Loughnane continues his rapid ascent through the ranks with a first Guineas ride on Richard Spencer’s outsider Sweet Harmony.

Only Beckett’s Juliet Sierra and O’Brien’s Never Ending Story were not declared at the 48-hour stage.



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