Chris Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Classic winning jockey Chris Hayes had a negotiate his way around the bends in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Maiden at Sligo today
but in the end managed to steer wayward front-runner My Brother to an eased down all-the-way success.
Hayes was almost forced off the course on the bend after passing the stand as his mount attempted to run out. However Hayes, who claimed his second Irish Classic success on Awtaad last month, managed to slow the son of Roderic O’Connor down before receiving some help as favourite Nelson Road the eventual runner-up, arrived on his outer to help steer a safe course back into the race.
Hayes pushed My Brother clear of his rivals with two furlongs to race and in the end, had the luxury of easing his mount down inside the final furlong before scoring an easy seven and half lengths win.
Winning trainer Lee Smyth later stated “I declared him for the National Stakes as a two-year-old but he got cast in his box and that's why we haven't seen him since. I gave him all the time he needed.
“That's how much I think of him - I think he's a machine. It was a weak enough maiden and if he hadn't won tonight I would have been scratching my head.
“He was acting the maggot in the parade ring and that's totally out of character for him as he's so quiet at home and he was also green on the first bend but Chris kept calm and collected and said 'lets get the job done'.
“He said afterwards if he could have steered him he'd have won half the track.
“I think he's a proper horse on soft ground and will make a serious horse in time.
“I'll look to go straight for black-type over that sort of trip. 1m2f is his trip and he'll get 1m4f if he settles his head.
“Three brothers (Swansons) own him and they are Scottish based; they are very enthusiastic and allowed me to purchase him. I loved him as soon as I saw him and all through his two-year-old year thought he was the business.
“You have to look at the horses that beat him in that Curragh maiden (in 2015) and Niall (McCullagh, jockey) gave him a nice introduction and then we were aiming at the National Stakes.”
“There was talk of him being sold if he did the business but I'll push to keep the training of him as a horse like him could take me places.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
