Hayes Hungry for Success in Sussex

Having never ridden at Goodwood before, Chris Hayes will have two bullets to fire this week. G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) isn't without his chance in the notoriously competitive Qatar Stewards' Cup on Saturday, having been handled patiently by new trainer Adrian Keatley since being relocated from David O'Meara's yard.

With all due respect to the former G1 Betfred Sprint Cup victor however, our focus is on Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Sussex S.

The race possesses all the ingredients for affirming the 'Glorious' soubriquet once more as the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas champion renews rivalries with The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}).

The latter finished behind the Kevin Prendergast-trained colt at The Curragh when bidding to add to his impressive Newmarket success, but turned the tables in the G1 St James's Palace S. They were split by The Gurkha, who had pulverised a strong field when claiming the G1 Poule d'Esaai des Poulains.

Throw in G3 Jersey S. winner Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the mouth waters at the prospect of a contender for flat race of the year.

Hayes is under no illusion as to the extent of the challenge but believes conditions this week will be much more suitable than last time.

“The ground in Ascot in my opinion was nearly heavy ground and he got just a bit bogged down in it,” said Hayes. “He was after running the first day in The Curragh–not that it was a busy campaign–but he was going pretty early so the boss backed off him since, he's freshened up and he's fit and well, raring to go. Providing the ground is nice ground I think he'll give them something to think about anyway.”

Awtaad always gave the impression that he possessed significant potential, though Hayes admits he wasn't sure the son of Cape Cross would be Group 1 standard. That had as much to do with his laid back nature as anything else, but he has proven himself since, and finishing third at Ascot hasn't robbed the Sheikh Hamdan homebred of his status.

“He had a genuine chance going into Ascot and had genuine reasons for not finishing closer–I won't say for not beating them, as they're two good horses in their own right, but he'd already beaten Galileo Gold, so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that he won't do it again provided it's a level playing field with the ground,” he continued. “Everybody said that the ground at The Curragh was soft. It wasn't. It was soft on the Sunday, no doubt, but it was yielding on the Saturday and that's probably our horse's ideal ground and he proved it that day. He got a bit bogged down on the Ascot ground.”

Hayes added, “He ran on ground similar to it on the first day in The Curragh, but there's a big difference from running in a 0-95 handicap on heavy ground to taking on the English Guineas winner and the French Guineas winner on heavy ground.”

“A couple of people had their ideas that Frankie [Dettori] got free rein [on Galileo Gold],” Hayes remarked. “For me, Frankie got first run on me because he travelled way better into the race. You can't make up ground going up the hill in Ascot on ground like that. I had to sit and suffer and hope Awtaad would come alive and carry me into it. He got me there to a certain degree but he didn't finish it out and it wasn't his true running and the experts can say what they want, but we know the horse inside-out.”

The reference to criticism of his ride at Royal Ascot is notable because Hayes has been known not to let the pundits off the hook if they are overly harsh.

Last year, when Channel 4 presenter Nick Luck wondered why Eddie Lynam didn't opt for a more high-profile rider for Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Murtagh and Richard Hughes, the Limerick native expressed his disappointment on Twitter.

“The negative comments, you try not to listen to them. But you always get these fellas on Twitter telling you this and that. I don't respond. I was a bit insulted by Nick Luck's comments. He said he didn't mean them the way they came across,” admitted the jockey. “When people said Frankie got first run and we were asleep out the back, that didn't bother me because I know the horse, I know the way he travels. The whole Shadwell team and Derrinstown team, Angus Gold and the boss [Kevin Prendergast]–they're watching racing long enough to know the horse didn't travel as well on that ground as he had been doing on other ground.”

The fact is that Hayes has been riding to a very high level for a number of years now, with just one blip when he lost the job as retained rider to Lady O'Reilly. With disarming honesty that compels you to believe everything he says about Royal Ascot, the 28-year-old acknowledges that he had no-one to blame but himself.

“I probably took things for granted when I had the O'Reilly job and wasn't as hungry as I should have been, which makes no sense as I was quite young, but when she didn't retain me in 2011, it was a kick up the backside,” Hayes recalled. “Back in my apprentice days I would pick up the phone and ring lads, they would ring me, and I would ride anything. I was too ahead of myself, trying to ride real good ones every day and didn't want to be riding outsiders. It was the kick in the rear-end that I needed and thank God I haven't looked back since.”

Hayes received two job offers in England, but Pat Smullen called and urged him to make no decision until he was 100% sure. His agent, Dave Keena, told him to see out the season and he developed strong partnerships with Andy Oliver, Patrick Prendergast and Paul Deegan.

Two years later, having first ridden a winner for Lady O'Reilly as a 10lb claimer, Hayes was back in her colours and winning the G1 Irish St Leger on Voleuse De Coeurs (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Keena has been a key member of the Hayes support team, alongside Chris's father PJ. Few have had more of an influence though, than Kevin Prendergast. Having been sent on placement to the venerable trainer while at RACE, he signed on in 2004, didn't take long to be champion apprentice and has been ever-present at Erindale.

Hayes said, “The day I walked into the yard, he looked after me from day one. Not just by giving me rides, but learning about looking after yourself, talking to owners. He's taught me more than anyone will ever know. I am very close to him and very fond of him. He's a hero of mine because he is a racing legend.”

“So it was nice to be able to be associated with him in winning a Guineas,” Hayes continued. “It's in the history books now and in years to come, people will hopefully be talking about it. It was nice to repay all the faith he had in me with that kind of win.”

The jockey concluded, “Once [Kevin Prendergast] was happy leaving Ascot, and Sheikh Hamdan was happy, I was happy. We have that kind of relationship. He'll take my opinion and he knows from working together that long that I wouldn't be trying to hide behind anything. If I thought I gave him a bad ride I'd say it, and vice versa. If he thought I gave him a bad ride he wouldn't be taking time to think about it, he'd let me know there and then.”

The 28-year-old jockey will alternate between Goodwood and Galway this week, with the Irish festival a place that holds some wonderful memories already. They will be dwarfed, though, if Awtaad can gain the upper hand on the Sussex Downs.