It would come as no surprise to many that Australia’s David Hayes, twice champion trainer in Hong Kong in the 1990’s, is more than happy to travel his horses internationally when the opportunity arrives and when their form warrants such an excursion.
After all, Hayes was adventurous enough himself at just 32 years of age to leave the comforts and security of home and venture to Hong Kong to take up a training licence in 1995. He stayed nine seasons, prepared 458 winners including the 2002 Hong Kong Sprint winner All Thrills Too and was champion trainer in 1997/98 and 1998/99.
His preparedness to travel has been embraced by his son Ben and eminently illustrated by his 2015 adventures with LONGINES Hong Kong Cup contender Criterion who has, in the past 12 months, travelled from Australia to Hong Kong three times with a UK stopover in between.
Hayes says that “travel really builds character with some horses” perhaps in the same way that it broadens people’s horizons. “I think that this is the case with this horse (Criterion). It’s enhanced his career and he continues to rate better with virtually every run.
“A trip does stimulate most horses. Most perform well, if not better, when you get them home and I’m always happy to travel if you’ve got the right horse,” Hayes said. Criterion won G1 races at 2000m, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Caulfield Stakes, on return to Australia after his two previous trips.
“He can be a hard horse to handle but he’s settled down and he’s a hard horse to handle at home so there’s no change. His manners on the ground can be a concern, he’ll bite and kick but there’s no quieter ride on the track. He’s fine on the track,” Hayes said.
Son Ben, who’s been by the horse’s side for much of the year and who arrived with him last week, has played his part in managing the five-year-old entire’s demeanour. “His temperament’s improved a lot now,” Hayes junior said this morning.
Horse and handler spent five months together mid-year at John Gosden’s yard in Newmarket where Ben was already ensconced before Criterion’s May arrival after his third place behind Blazing Speed in April’s APQEII Cup, and that’s a time which Ben recalls fondly.
“Initially I was getting up early to work the horse but eventually he joined John’s number one string and that was amazing to go out with horses like Golden Horn, Jack Hobbs, Western Hymn and Star Of Seville. In one string we had Derby winners from England, Ireland and Australia.
“Criterion’s my favourite horse now. We've spent a lot of time together ... he's got a quirky personality. He's quite an aggressive horse in his box, but I feel quite safe around him,” Ben said of the horse who was beaten only one length when 3rd to Designs On Rome in last year’s LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.
Hayes senior’s thirst for international competition is also unsurprising given that he won the 1990 Japan Cup with Better Loosen Up, which was just four months into his training career, taking over the Lindsay Park team from his renowned father Colin in August that year.
“We haven’t always got the cigar but they’ve generally performed pretty well,” Hayes said of his international runners, who’ve travelled from both Australia and Hong Kong, which aside from Criterion and Better Loosen Up also include Helene Vitality and Elegant Fashion - from Hong Kong; and Jeune, Nicconi, Niconero, Fraar, Eagle Falls and Dark Ksar from Australia.
“And we’ve been unlucky a few times. Eagle Falls had no luck and probably should have won the Golden Shaheen in Dubai (2010) and (Gerald) Mosse’s still trying to get out on Elegant Fashion in the Cox Plate (2004),” Hayes said.
All bar one of Hayes’ 10 international runners have managed to finish top six in, at least one, of their overseas appearances.
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Photo 1:
With big race jockey Craig Williams on board, the David Hayes-trained LONGINES Hong Kong Cup runner Criterion gallops on Sha Tin turf this morning.
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