Tag Archive for: Ezeliya

Oaks heroine Ezeliya retired following setback

/in /by

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.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Ezeliya still taking it easy after superb Oaks success

/in /by

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.”

The Betfred Derby Festival – Ladies Day – Epsom Downs Racecourse
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.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Weld considering future options for Oaks victor Ezeliya

/in /by

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.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Hayes savouring every moment of Oaks glory with Ezeliya

/in /by

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.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Ezeliya is Oaks queen for Weld and Hayes at Epsom

/in /by

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.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Ezeliya stakes Classic claim with Salsabil verdict

/in /by

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.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns