Weld & Hayes win consecutive renewals of 1,000 Guineas

Trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Chris Hayes combined to win consecutive renewals of the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas today, scoring with the Aga Khan-owned Tahiyra (2/5f) at the Curragh today.

Successful last year with Homeless Songs, Tahiyra provided Weld and Hayes with another Group 1 win last September and today improved one-placing on her recent valiant English 1,000 runner-up effort.

Racing prominently today but in a pocket on the inside, Hayes switched Tahiyra left to challenge under two furlongs out, led a furlong from home and quickened well to beat Meditiate by a length and a half.

It was an Irish Guineas clean-sweep for Tahiyra's sire Siyouni, responsible for yesterday's colts' winner Paddington, and was a sixth win in the race for Weld, who said “she was in a pocket but when you have a very good horse they have the pace to get out of that pocket. I was always comfortable.

“The plan was to hold onto her and ride her for speed. My only concern was whether she would let herself down on the quick ground. They have done a good job here.

“We’ll see how she comes out of this race and obviously we will think about the Coronation Stakes (at Royal Ascot).”

A relieved Hayes added “racing was called off the day after the English 1,000 Guineas and I'm glad, as it was as I took it bad.

“I looked up the betting yesterday and saw she was 1/2 and never in my wildest dreams did I think someone like me would be riding short-priced favourites in the Guineas.”

He added “to be honest I was worried about the draw and didn't know what way I was going to play it. I've played this race a million times since declaration time and when I saw I was drawn in 1, my heart sank and thought 'how am I going to do this'.

“But I had the utmost confidence in her - she is a proper filly.

“To be fair to the boss (Weld) and the team, they didn't question anything. I rang Mick Kinane and told him there mightn't be much pace and he said if you have faith in her, ride her with confidence.

“The gap was tight when we went for it and while she isn't very big, is all heart

Quotes from Alan Magee