A tilt at the Irish 1,000 Guineas could be on the agenda for Swelter following an impressive display in the Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” Stakes at Leopardstown.
Making her first appearance since scoring on debut at the Foxrock track over a mile last July, the Juddmonte-owned Kingman filly was a 6-1 shot as she stepped up in class but down in trip for this seven-furlong Group Three.
The three-year-old was bidding to complete a double on the card for trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Chris Hayes following the earlier maiden success of the well-bred Tarima and she delivered in some style, quickening up smartly to grab the lead over a furlong out and finding plenty for pressure to beat the slightly wayward 5-6 favourite Exactly by a length and a quarter.
Swelter was an impressive winner at Group Three level (Niall Carson/PA)
Weld said: “I’d say it was a good renewal of the race, a very competitive Group Three. I was delighted with her, as it was only her second start.
“She won over a mile here last year and my concern was that seven furlongs might be a little too sharp for her. My reason for running her was that she would learn a lot from it and I thought she came home very nicely.
“We’ll see how she comes out of the race, but my present thoughts would be to head for something like the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
“She is a filly that will hopefully get 10 furlongs as the season progresses.”
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Tarima lived up to her regal breeding when coming from last to first to make a successful start to her career in the “Look De Vega” At Ballylinch Stud Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown.
The three-year-old is a half-sister to two of trainer Dermot Weld’s former stable stars in Tarnawa and Tahiyra. Tarnawa won three Group Ones and was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while Tahiyra struck four times at the highest level, including a Classic victory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Tarima, a daughter of Lope De Vega, was a heavily backed 4-7 favourite for her racecourse introduction and was given time to find her feet by Chris Hayes, who settled her at the rear of the seven-strong field for much of the one-mile journey before angling wide to mount a challenge in the straight.
It took a few strides for the penny to drop, but Weld’s filly comfortably ran down those in front of her in the end and passed the post with a length and three-quarters in hand over Noli Timere.
Weld said: “That was a nice performance by the filly and she’ll learn a lot from it.
“Chris hadn’t planned to sit quite so far back on her, but she just gets turned sideways when they jump (from stalls) and he had to sit and do the right thing and ride her with confidence.
“She was a backward filly as a two-year-old and I didn’t get to teach her that much – she was growing and developing. She is going to learn an awful lot from that race.”
Tarima made an impressive debut at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)
While in no rush to commit to future plans, the master of Rosewell House did raise the possibility of Tarima bidding to emulate Tahiyra in the spring, adding: “I expect a lot of progress in the filly and hopefully she develops to be a stakes filly. I trained her two half-sisters to win seven Group Ones.
“I would see her going beyond a mile but have an open mind on when we go beyond a mile.
“The Irish 1,000 Guineas has to be a consideration, but let’s take smaller steps first.”
Serious Contender completed a treble on the card for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore with victory in the 1888 Restaurant Handicap.
Serious Contender was a third winner at Leopardstown for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore (Niall Carson/PA)
With the Ballydoyle team having earlier landed a Group Three double courtesy of 2000 Guineas hopeful Henri Matisse (6-4) and Derby contender Delacroix (4-7), Serious Contender was a 9-4 favourite for his first start since shedding his maiden tag at Leopardstown in October.
The pacesetting Glen To Glen looked the likely winner after taking a couple of lengths out of the field in the straight, but Serious Contender and his stablemate Light As Air got rolling late to fill the first two positions, separated by only half a length.
O’Brien said: “Ryan had a grand position and he’s a lovely big horse. We’ll see where he fits in.
“I think the first two can both go a mile and a half. It was a strong-run race and they weren’t stopping.
“Jack’s (Cleary) horse (Light As Air) was only after having two runs and was very green the twice he ran. I didn’t know what he was going to do so I said to Jack to let him get relaxed the first half and see what is going to happen.”
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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 (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 (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 (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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Irish Oaks fourth Elizabeth Jane made the most of an ease in grade with victory in the Thomas’s Of Foxrock “Jim And Kathleen Murphy” Memorial Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown.
A debut winner at this track 12 months ago for trainer Dermot Weld and owners Moyglare Stud Farm, the daughter of Dubawi showed her class when picking up minor honours in Classic company behind Ralph Beckett’s You Got To Me in July.
She was disappointing when beating only one rival in last month’s Blandford Stakes at the Curragh, but bounced back to form in this 10-furlong Listed event, finishing off strongly in the hands of Chris Hayes to score by a length and three-quarters from Layfayette, with Stromberg a close-up third.
“She deserved that win, she’s a very talented filly,” said Weld.
“That was only her fourth run of the year, she ran fourth in the Irish Oaks and ran a very good race.
“She had been working nicely and that was what I expected, a very good performance today.
“Things didn’t go right for her in the Blandford on the day but since then she’s been working very well and I was reasonably confident she’d win today.”
Elizabeth Jane with Dermot Weld at Leopardstown (Gary Carson/PA)
When asked if Elizabeth Jane would return next year, the trainer added: “Oh, most definitely. I think a mile and a half will prove to be her best trip.
“I nearly didn’t run her today to wait for the Finale Stakes over a mile and a half, but she had been working nicely, so we rightly decided to come today.
“You’ll find that at Group level, a mile and a half will be no problem next year. We’ll try and win a Group One with her next year over a mile and a half.”
Norwalk Havoc dominated from the front in the Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes.
Ninth in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last month, Jessica Harrington’s charge was a 2-1 favourite to secure Listed honours and his second victory over the course and distance.
Norwalk Havoc claimed Listed honours at Leopardstown (Gary Carson/PA)
Soon bowling along at the head of affairs under Shane Foley, Norwalk Havoc found plenty for pressure from the home turn and passed the post with three and a half lengths in hand over Uncanny.
Kate Harrington, assistant to her mother, said: “We’re delighted with him, he really enjoyed that heavy going.
“He ran a great race in the English Cambridgeshire and was just drawn on the wrong side that day. I think he was only beaten a nose on his side. He just had nothing to take him into the race and he ran with real credit.
“It’s great to get that Listed win before the end of the season. I don’t think there is anything else for him for the rest of the year but he stays in training next year and he’s one to look forward to early doors.”
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Al Nayyir laid down a marker to his potential Champions Day rivals after coasting to victory in the Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes.
The six-year-old was a short-head second in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup at York on his debut for Tom Clover last month, but he justified his tag as 11-8 favourite in the Listed contest at Newmarket with the comfortable triumph.
Aidan O’Brien’s Fighter was bidding to complete a hat-trick in the two-mile race and occupied the pace-setting role.
However, jockey Luke Morris cruised through a gap with ease before stretching Al Nayyir’s advantage with every stride.
Harbour Wind, representing Dermot Weld, made his initial move alongside the eventual winner but finished eight lengths behind in the runner-up spot.
Al Nayyir is now 7-1 from 16s with Paddy Power for the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot next month.
“He did it really nicely and he is a very exciting stayer and I couldn’t be more thrilled by the way he won there, he did it hard held didn’t he,” said Clover.
“We’ve got him in on Champions Day and I imagine that will be the logical step, but I would just love to avoid Kyprios if we could, that would be nice.
“It’s impossible to know if he could put it up to Kyprios, but he does look very classy and the way he ran at York, he came from a long way back and hit the line strongly. You would love to see them have a match at some point. We’re all sports fans and it would be great to see.”
On the steel! Al Nayyir wins the Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes in the manner of a very good horse for @tomcloverracing with Luke Morris doing the steering pic.twitter.com/i8qeHFNazu
He went on: “He is a very exciting horse for us and I’m just pleased for the owner and very grateful for their support. He’s one of our highest-rated horses and we love having these stakes horses.
“He ran a huge race at York and just seems to be improving. He didn’t get a smack and to win any stakes race by that distance is exciting. He’s a lovely horse and by Dubawi, they tend to improve with time and age and hopefully he will keep progressing.
“The form at York with Vauban looks strong and he has placed at Group One level previously and probably deserves to win one at some stage.”
While Ascot is an immediate consideration, Al Nayyir could head to Dubai again over the winter months.
Clover added: “The plan is to go to Dubai and the owner is very keen to go, and I would love to go as well. Fingers crossed we can get him out there and we would love to go there this winter.
Trainer Tom Clover hopes to send Al Nayyir to the Middle East this winter (Mike Egerton/PA)
“There’s some great prize money in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. I’m just thrilled the horse has got his head in front today, he deserved to win a race and he’s gone and done it in the style we hoped and hopefully now we can roll on to our next race in a few weeks’ time.
“He hasn’t had much of a race there today, so hopefully he comes out of it fine and we can go there with plenty to look forward to.”
Weld, who made the trip across the Irish Sea to Suffolk, was delighted with Harbour Wind’s performance and is also eyeing Ascot.
“He’s run his usual excellent race and he’s never finished outside of the first two in his life,” he said.
“Fair play to the winner, he looks a high-class stayer. He came into the race rated 114 and he has probably run way above 114 in my opinion.
“I would say we would head to Champions Day. We will review it with the owner and discuss his plan and I would say the ground was a bit too deep for him there today.”
Dermot Weld’s decision to remain in Ireland with Tarawa paid dividends as she secured Group Three glory in the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes at the Curragh.
The trainer admitted he had been considering a trip to America with the four-year-old filly, but eventually opted to stay closer to home with his previous Listed winner.
Having placed on numerous occasions in Group race company, Tarawa landed the Glencairn Stakes in June over the same nine-furlong trip she faced here and she was rated an 11-2 chance for this contest.
Chris Hayes had her in front with two furlongs to run and while Hanalia and Wingspan stayed on to good effect in the closing stages, Tarawa was a length and a quarter too good, with just a head separating the placed pair.
Tarawa with her winning connections at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)
“It was a good performance by her, she’s been a model of consistency,” said Weld.
“I know she’s been placed more times in Group races, but she has a lot of black type and having won a stakes race at Leopardstown, it was just lovely to go and win a Group race with her today.
“I thought she had it won a long way out. I appreciate she got first run on them a little bit, but the track is riding quick today and the plan was to sit very handy because they are not coming from off the pace.
“The way every race is working out today you have to sit very handy. That’s what he did and the rest is history.
“When she won her Listed race at Leopardstown that’s what she did and she ran a good race at Leopardstown when she was second to a good horse of Aidan’s (Diego Velazquez).
“I think a mile-and-one is her correct trip. She’s after winning her stakes and her group race over a mile-and-one.
Tarawa (left) was a cosy winner (Damien Eagers/PA)
“She was in a graded race at Kentucky Downs and we gave it a lot of thought but we decided to stay here.
“I have a few ideas for her now.”
Tarawa is entered in the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 14, with Weld not ruling out the Group One contest.
He added: “We’ll see how she comes out of it, that could be a possibility. It depends on the makeup of the Matron.
“She’s very good around Leopardstown so we’ll give it definite consideration.”
Shamida showed the value of her comeback run last month to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes at Cork.
Dermot Weld’s runner had been off for 294 days when finishing sixth in the Curragh Cup and she was clearly better for it, moving nicely into this before putting her head down to see off the front-running Ballydoyle three-year-olds Mother Nature and Lily Heart.
Ridden by Chris Hayes, the Aga Khan-owned four-year-old (4-1) – who ended last season finishing mid-division in the Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend – was striking at Group Three level for the third time in her career and holds a number of notable engagements.
Kris Weld, assistant to his father, said: “She is a very brave and honest filly and a very good one. We thought she’d win today, we were surprised she wasn’t favourite, but there you go, and she is a triple Group Three-winning filly now.
“The distance (mile and a half) was slightly short for her, but she showed a good turn of foot at the top of the straight. She isn’t a slow filly.
“She has plenty of entries in the autumn, we’ll see how she comes out of this race and pick something nice. She’ll be going back up to Group One level again.”
Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee were out of luck with the well-fancied La Isla Mujeres in the feature, but did have a nice winner through Super Sox in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms Irish EBF Platinum Stakes.
Progressive at the start of the season, but having her first start since May, Super Sox was sent off the 11-4 joint-favourite and there was not much doubt about the result approaching the final furlong.
Twomey said: “She is a nice filly, all her runs had been good, but she won very impressively running quick sectional times on Guineas weekend. She did a 10.5 and an 11.07 (seconds) for the final two furlongs and the horse she beat won by nine lengths and 11 lengths on his next starts.
“She is big, we gave her time and she has furnished her frame as she was quite light in the spring. She needed to fill and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards. She has an entry in the Ballyogan, but I doubt she’ll run as it is next weekend.
“Billy said she could come back to six furlongs next year and we think she has a good future.”
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The Aga Khan’s Oaks-winning filly Ezeliya has been retired after meeting with a setback in training.
The three-year-old, who is by Dubawi and out of a multiple Group-race winner in Eziyra, ran four times for trainer Dermot Weld and was beaten only once.
That defeat came on her debut at Leopardstown last August, but she won next time out when making the final start of her juvenile season at Cork.
At three she began her campaign with success in the Salsabil Stakes, after which she headed to Epsom for the Oaks where she ran out an impressive three-length winner under Chris Hayes.
Injury will now bring her racing career to an end, with her ability and pedigree making her a valuable asset for the Aga Khan’s breeding programme.
Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan’s Irish studs, said: “It is obviously disappointing and we hoped she would have a lot of racing in front of her, but what she has achieved in a short amount of time has been excellent.
“We were looking forward to seeing what she could have achieved throughout the year, taking on the older horses and the colts later in the season, but it wasn’t to be and we can look forward to her as a broodmare and what she could achieve in the future.
“She goes out on a high and she has had a setback that has resulted in the retirement, but the important thing is that she is perfectly well and we can look forward to the future with her.
“What it is all about for us is retiring fillies like Ezeliya into the broodmare band and that is a real positive for us.”
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Hazdann put his previous experience to good use as he ran out a game winner of the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh.
Derby hero City Of Troy made a winning racecourse bow in the seven-furlong heat last year and much of the attention was centred on his fellow Aidan O’Brien-trained runner Rock Of Cashel on his first trip to the track.
A Wootton Bassett half-brother to Snowfall, Rock Of Cashel was sent off the 7-4 favourite under Ryan Moore but never really looked like taking a hand in the finish, coming home eighth behind 10-1 Hazdann.
The Dermot Weld-trained victor had to work hard though, with Chris Hayes’ mount showing the benefit of a previous ninth at Gowran when fending off newcomer Green Impact by a neck in the colours of the Aga Khan.
Hazdann pleased Dermot Weld with his win (Damien Eagers/PA)
“He did it nicely. He just got no run in Gowran but he came home very well that day,” said Weld.
“He’s progressed well for the race, worked very well the other morning and I thought he’d represent us very well. That’s what he did.
“I said to Chris that he would have learned a lot from Gowran, that he had a good draw and to use his experience.
“He’s a lovely colt, a very genuine colt. Obviously we’ll look at a stakes race with him next. We’ll hasten slowly with him.
“You’ll find he continues to progress as the year goes on. He’s from the Harzand family so there is a nice bit of toughness there as well.
“It’s a very important winner with the Princess (Zahra Aga Khan) here to see it.”
Apricot Ice and jockey Colin Keane with winning connections at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)
Apricot Ice (100-30 favourite) added to her maiden win at the track last month with a one-length verdict for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane in the Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Handicap.
“You can see by the size of her, she’s still on the leg. We ran her in a Listed race at Leopardstown last year, that’s what we thought of her,” said Lyons.
“She’s only going to get better with age. She’s turned a wee corner there, she won her maiden and she’s backed it up today.
“I’d say we only got away with it on the ground. She’s all about top of the ground and if the race was in two races time, I’d say we would have been in trouble.
“Obviously, the aim is that they grow into black-type fillies – and I’d say that will happen at four.”
Set Point (far side) was a Curragh winner for Sophie Carter (Damien Eagers/PA)
The Gordon Elliott-trained Set Point (14-1) gave Sophie Carter a memorable first winner on the racecourse in the Kildare Village Ladies Derby Handicap.
She said: “That was my first winner on the track as well. Most of my rides are pointing and I had a good season this year. I didn’t expect to be riding on the track this summer, especially Flat racing.
“I never expected to even get the ride. I’m delighted now after sitting in the bath this morning that it worked out. I’ll look forward to the dinner on the way home!”
Galen (4-7 favourite) was an easy victor in the Molton Brown Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden for Joseph O’Brien, while Arnaman (11-10 favourite) made a winning start for new trainer Ken Condon in the closing La Celia Wines Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden.
Connections of Ezeliya remain in no rush to finalise plans for their Oaks-winning filly.
The Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old was an impressive winner of the Epsom showpiece, beating Dance Sequence by three lengths under Chris Hayes.
Owned by the Aga Khan, the daughter of Dubawi is enjoying a break at his stud following her Classic display.
Weld said: “She’s having a break at the moment, back in Gilltown. We’ll see how she comes on and when she comes back, we’ll make a decision.”
Ezeliya and winning connections after the Betfred Oaks (Steven Paston for the Jockey Club).
Weld also had news of another smart filly in Elizabeth Jane, who was an impressive winner on her sole start so far last October.
“She’s been very backward this spring, but she’s coming forward nicely. All being well, she’ll run in the Oaks trial at Naas in two weeks’ time,” said the Rosewell House handler.
Weld was speaking after Ghaiyyath’s full-brother Duraji opened his account at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.
The trainer was pleased with what he saw, saying: “He’s a nice colt, he’s progressive. He’s still very immature, both mentally and physically. There is a lot of improvement in this horse.
“Obviously, we’ll have a crack at a stakes race with him next.
“Chris said it took him two furlongs to pull him up. He was off the bridle turning for home but the way he finished out really impressed me. I’d say he’s a colt that will enjoy going a mile and a half.
“He’s still a very immature colt and he won’t be anything until next year as a four-year-old.
“I loved his attitude, loved the way he put his head down and I would expect him to be a stakes horse in the future.
“We’ll have an open mind on him, see how he comes out of the race and then make a decision.”
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Dermot Weld has mooted a mid-season break for his Oaks winner Ezeliya before a possible run in the Prix Vermeille as a precursor to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The Aga Khan-owned filly impressed at Epsom on Friday when winning by three lengths in clear-cut fashion.
She holds an entry in the Irish Oaks on July 20 but Weld’s other option is ease off her this month with a view to a busy autumn campaign.
Weld won the Prix Vermeille in 2020 with Tarnawa, who went on to win at the Breeders’ Cup meeting later that year.
“We’ll all have a discussion and decide whether she goes for the Irish Oaks or whether we give her a little bit more time and leave her off for the month of June and bring her back for an autumn campaign,” Weld told Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday.
“Maybe a race like the Prix Vermeille, which has been good for us in the past, and if she progresses like I think she can, maybe have a crack at the Arc with her but that is all to be decided.
“The fact she’s a three-year-old filly and gets the allowances would be a factor but I often say she’ll tell me if it’s bridge too far, but we’ll only know that in the autumn when I see how she is training and how she runs.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/276377019-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-06-02 13:04:082024-06-02 13:04:08Weld considering future options for Oaks victor Ezeliya
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).
— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) May 31, 2024
“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 (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.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/276377097-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-05-31 17:21:052024-05-31 17:21:05Hayes savouring every moment of Oaks glory with Ezeliya
Ezeliya shone in coming home an impressive winner of the Betfred Oaks at Epsom for trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Chris Hayes.
The Aga Khan-owned 13-2 chance was kept handy throughout the mile-and-a-half fillies’ showpiece and was in the middle of the field of 12 as they turned for home.
From there she began to gain ground, moving with real purpose and staying on strongly to take up the lead and see off a challenge from Charlie Appleby’s Dance Sequence – who did not help her jockey in the closing stages – to prevail by three lengths.
David Menuisier’s War Chimes ran a huge race in third at 50-1, but hot favourite Ylang Ylang was disappointing, never really being able to get in a serious blow.
“It’s a very special day. Competition is very keen nowadays and we’re very fortunate to have a filly for His Highness that is as good as this,” said Weld, who was winning the race for the second time, after Blue Wind in 1981.
“She’s a beautifully-mannered animal and a beautiful filly to train. Patience has paid dividend with her; we took our time with her as a two-year-old, and just gave her one run this year when she won nicely at Navan.
“She loves to come from off the pace, this is a progressive filly. She’s very relaxed and got a beautiful ride from Chris Hayes. She was cantering down the hill then he gave her a couple of strides and let her go.
“We will look at the Irish Oaks or wait for an autumn campaign, which may involve the Arc.”
He added: “She’s a good filly, her dam was a very good filly, Frankie Dettori rode her at the Breeders’ Cup and then she ran in Hong Kong where she was third in the Vase.
“I was always pretty sure she’d stay, she’s from a great staying Aga Khan family that goes back to the Gold Cup horses Enzeli and Estimate, so that’s why I was confident about the trip.
“She’s also a very relaxed filly and it was a beautiful ride by Chris, I was pretty confident from a long way out, she was cantering, he got her into a beautiful rhythm which is important before you let them go, and he sat for those couple of strides.
“It’s a few years since I first won the Oaks, but I haven’t had many runners. It’s hard to get fillies like this. Harzand won the Derby here and I rode the winner of the amateur Derby here, and trained it!
“She looks like an Irish Oaks filly, but we’ll see how she is.”
The King and Queen were in attendance, presenting the trophy for the Coronation Cup before watching their filly Treasure run in the Oaks, where she was eased when her chance had gone, beating just one horse home.
Her trained Ralph Beckett said: “Treasure didn’t handle the track, James (Doyle) felt. She was in the right place, but has obviously run below par.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/276377012-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-05-31 15:47:012024-05-31 17:25:17Ezeliya is Oaks queen for Weld and Hayes at Epsom
Ezeliya ended Purple Lily’s unbeaten start to her career when running down Paddy Twomey’s filly in the closing stages of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan.
Winner of a Cork maiden on her second outing last season, the Dermot Weld-trained Ezeliya was a 9-1 shot in a strong Listed race.
Purple Lily appeared to have everything covered as Billy Lee unleased down on the outside of Everlasting and Caught You Looking, but Chris Hayes, who had been pushing away for some time on Ezeliya, was getting a real tune out of his filly.
She flew home to win by half a length and earn a quote of 16-1 from Coral for the Betfred Oaks at Epsom.
“I thought she would run a big race and she did,” said Weld.
“It was a very true-run Group race and they went a real good gallop for a mile and a quarter.
“Chris took his time on her. He planned to sit a little bit closer but the pace they were going he waited. I loved the way she attacked the hill and saw her race out well. Better ground will suit her better.”
Ezeliya is a daughter of Dubawi out of Eziyra, who was a multiple Group race winner for Weld and placed third behind Enable in the 2017 Irish Oaks.
He added: “It is a lovely family – a good, tough family and I think she will get a mile and a half.
“She is a Group One filly – lots to look forward to.”
When asked about the Epsom and Irish Oaks, he replied: “She is in both and we will review it and see.
“We will see how she progresses during the week and make a decision in two weeks.”
Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Tahiyra has been retired following her third-placed finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Trained by Dermot Weld, the daughter of Siyouni struck at the highest level at two before returning at three to become one of the leading milers of her generation.
Although denied by Mawj in the 1000 Guineas at the start of the year, she gained Classic compensation when securing the Irish equivalent and then gained further top-level success by winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tahiyra winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)
She returned from a summer break to pick up another Group One at Leopardstown in September, producing a dazzling display in the Matron Stakes, and brought the curtain down on her career with a brave third behind Big Rock on British Champions Day.
Tahiyra will now join her owner the Aga Khan’s broodmare band for the next stage of her career.
Explaining the decision, Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan’s Irish Studs, said: “We have been absolutely delighted with her and we have spoken about what we would do since she ran on Saturday.
“We just took a view that, unlike her sister Tarnawa, who didn’t win her Group One until four, Tahiyra was obviously a champion two-year-old and a champion three-year-old and a very important filly for the future of the stud.
“We felt we had done enough with her and she will move on now to the next stage.
“She’s been an absolute star and she ran her heart out on Saturday. We have been delighted with her and she has been a tremendous filly for us.
“We will now look forward to the next stage of her career which will be in the breeding shed.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/274198984-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-10-23 12:39:062023-10-24 11:20:07Tahiyra retired following gallant QEII performance
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