HIGHLY-REGARDED Limerick jockey Chris Hayes partnered the exciting Ezeliya to an impressive success in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom for trainer Dermot Weld on Friday afternoon. The Aga Khan-owned 13-2 chance was kept handy throughout the mile-and-a-half fillies’ showpiece by Shanagolden horseman Hayes 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. Thirty six-year-old Hayes attended Shanagolden NS and later Salesian College, Pallaskenry before progressing to RACE Racing Academy and Centre of Education in Kildare. He joined Kevin Prendergast as an apprentice in 2004 and was champion apprentice in each of the next three years.
Hayes rode his first winner on the track in July 2004 when partnering Anonymity to success at Bellewstown for trainer Ger Lynch. oozes class in the @Betfred Oaks @EpsomRacecourse @chrishayes24 | @AgaKhanStuds pic.twitter.
com/eOBA3LcsDS Chris Hayes rode the longest-priced winner in the history of racing in Ireland or Britain when partnering the Luke comer-trained He Knows No Fear to win an eight-furlong maiden at Leopardstown .
