Chris Hayes, ninth in the Irish jockey standings this year with 35 winners, will ride in India this winter. The 20 year-old Hayes will be the stable jockey for Dr Vijay Mallya. I had a conversation with Zeyn Mirza, Director of United Racing and Bloodstock Breeders Ltd.
Mirza said, “I was in Ireland. I spoke to Mick Kinane. Kinane rode in India and he understands Indian racing and conditions in India. I asked him to suggest a name. Without hesitation, he came up with Chris Hayes. Mick’s recommendation is all I needed. I had a meeting with Chris to discuss terms. Everything went well. Chris is young. He is very energetic and has enormous potential. I am sure he will do well for us.”Talking about the upcoming season, Mirza continued, “We have Jaggy Dhariwal and Sulaiman Attaollahi training for us in Bangalore. In Mumbai, Pesi Shroff and Imtiaz Sait take care of our horses. If you ask me to pinpoint a good prospect or two, I can readily think of Arabian Knight. Astraea is a high-class filly and we are expecting good things from her. We have a bunch of freshmen and we are looking forward to racing them.”
Chris Hayes has 35 wins from 517 rides in 2007. That is a 7% strike rate. He was second 42 times, third 51 times and fourth 42 times. His horses earned a total of 504,431 pounds.
I spoke to Chris Hayes. He was pleasant and eager to answer questions. “I am 20. This is my fourth year of riding. I have ridden 116 winners in my career. I ride at 114 pounds.”
I asked him what the biggest win of his career was. “I won the Bird Catcher Handicap at Naas (a track in Ireland) and I came close with Dimenticata in the 1000 Guineas at the Curragh this year.”
Hayes went on: “Mick Kinane told me that India is a good place to ride. Mick’s advice is important to me. This will be a great experience. I am leaving in about 10 days. I hope to be in India on or before November 14.”
There is another Irish rider, Daniel Grant, who will make the trip to India. Grant will ride for Harresh Mehta. I called trainer Padmanabhan in Bangalore. The ever-courteous Padmanabhan greeted me cordially. Holding Court was the first subject. “Holding Court is in Keeneland and doing well,” he said. “There is a Group II race at Churchill Downs on November 23 and that is our target. Entries close on November 10. James McKeown is our trainer there. I am also looking at other options. May be, an allowance race.”
I asked Padmanabhan about Daniel Grant. “He is an up and coming jockey. We wanted somebody new--fresh blood. Grant fits that bill. He has a good record out there. I am confident he will have a lot of success here. Grant’s first big engagement is the ride on Queen Rania in the Golconda 1000 Guineas on November 18.”
“I believe in giving recognition to talent. I gave Richard Hills and Martin Dwyer their first stints in India. Martin won the 1000 Guineas with Running Flame for me.”
Martin Dwyer, now one of the leading riders in England, won the Epsom Derby in 2006 with Sir Percy. Indian fans will recall that Dwyer steered the Padmanabhan-trained Zurbaran to victory in the 2003 Hyderabad Invitation Cup.
DM Grant is 29 and rides at 112 pounds. He had 23 winners from 332 rides in 2007. That gives him a 7% strike rate. Grant was second 23 times, third 18 times and fourth 14 times. His mounts earned 383,569 pounds. Grant ranks 13th in the Irish list this year.
I called Dan Grant in Ireland. “I am getting ready. I started riding in 1998. I have about 150 winners so far. My best win was in a Group II race at the Curragh.”
“I had a talk with Niall McCullagh. You know, he and Colm (O’Donoghue) have been going to India. Niall spoke well of racing in India. He said that going to India would be a good thing. I am leaving next weekend. I am excited and hope to do well.”
Niall McCullagh’s status is this: he is recovering from a leg fracture. He hopes to be in India in mid-January.
Thewayyouare, Stephen Pasquier up, won the Group I Criterium International at Saint Cloud. Andre Fabre was the winning trainer. The track was very soft. Six ran. The time for the 1,600-metre race was 1 45.3. The winner’s purse was 96,520 pounds.
Andre Fabre is yet to win the Epsom Derby. His Visindaar, the favourite in 2006, finished a disappointing fifth behind Sir Percy. The British bookmakers took notice. Thewayyouare, a Kingmambo colt out of a Saddler’s Wells mare Maryinsky, is now 16-1 for the Deby next June.
Seb Sandets cut down Jamie Spencer’s lead on Thursday. Sanders had two Lingfield winners. He had one winner at Wolverhampton. The numbers read:Spencer 181 and Sanders 178.
