Irish jockey Chris Hayes is adjusting to life in Dubai after getting the opportunity as stable jockey to local trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam for the UAE season.
Back home in Ireland, Hayes has ridden over 450 winners since beginning as an apprentice for Kevin Prendergast in 2004, and he seems to have taken to racing over here quite well, amassing 16 winners so far.
The self-confessed shy 28-year-old says it’s been more of a case of ‘ups’ than ‘downs’ since arriving in October.
“I’ve settled in quite well. Really enjoying it. I’m delighted to get the opportunity to be here… it’s a bit different from home but it definitely beats the cold weather!”
Hayes is clearly very thankful for the opportunity from Dhruba Selvaratnam and Sheikh Ahmed to come out to the Middle East and ride.
“From a racing point of view, I’m meeting lots of people, making new contacts and riding nice horses… you’d go anywhere to do that.”
UAE 2000 Guineas-winning jockey, Chris Hayes before racing at #Meydan tonight. #DWCC16 @WatkinsPhotos @chrishayes24 pic.twitter.com/9a1PLd93wA
— Dubai World Cup (@DWC_Meydan) February 18, 2016
However, like with most jobs, travelling away from home for the first time can be tough, but the jockey tries to keep a positive spin on things.
“It is lonely when you first set foot here and I’m the only Irish-based jockey here so it was a bit difficult and different when I first started, but they’re a great bunch of lads and everyone’s looked after me,” says Hayes.
“Dhruba especially has been very good to me since I got off the plane. That helps the loneliness… and it’s not going to be long until I’ll be back home and missing it here!”
With the prize money on offer in the UAE, it must be difficult for a jockey’s head not to be turned in this day and age.
Reigning UK champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa recently revealed that jockeys on the circuit face a difficult time of making a decent living if they’re riding under 100 winners in a season.
For example, the prize money on offer in the feature at Wolverhampton on Tuesday offered £9,000 (Dh46,400) in total, including placed efforts.
If you were to enter a domestic handicap at Meydan on a weekend, you’d be looking at three times the amount of money on offer and at least two times in Jebel Ali.
The Irishman didn’t have to think long about the decision to head overseas, but a strong allegiance with 84-year-old Prendergast meant his blessing was needed before committing to his first season in the UAE.
“I didn’t have to think about it much. The powers that be wished me luck…Kevin has first call on me and if he’d have said no, then I would’ve had to do that.
“With me, loyalty is everything and you have to show that and give it back, so thankfully he did give me the go ahead.”
With no experience of riding Purebred Arabian horses, or ever sitting on board a horse on a dirt track before, it’s been an eye-opening first three months, but with 16 winners so far, Hayes has taken it in his stride.
“I’ve no experience on the dirt. Never rode on it before… never ridden an Arabian before and that’s an experience in itself. Throw dirt riding on top of that… It’s hard to say you’ve enjoyed every minute of it – some of the Arabian horses have been a bit difficult.
“But if I was lucky enough to come back next year, then at least I’ve got that experience under my belt. It takes a lot of learning.
“Richie (Mullen) and Tadhg (O’Shea), they’ve been here years… Dane O’Neill, Wayne Smith, Royston (Ffrench), they also have been here for years… they do the best job.”
Since speaking to Sport360, Market Rally has provided Hayes with his biggest win in the UAE, taking the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas. He reversed form with a double-handed Godolphin team of Steady Pace and Rouleau, who completed a 1-2 in the UAE 2000 Guineas trial over a lesser distance with Market Rally back in fourth.
When talking about the low points, anyone that follows racing in the UAE probably knows the answer.
“The Jebel Ali Mile (Forjatt, second). I’ll have nightmares for years to come over that!
“I’m my own worst critic, and for it to just be purely accidental that the whip got knocked out of my hand… When you look back on it – there’s nothing you can do – I threw the kitchen sink at him.
“Look, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise, maybe I’d have given him a harder race than he deserved. He’s come out of the race 110 per cent.”
With the end of the UAE season overlapping with the first week of the Irish equivalent, Hayes has somewhat of a balancing act on his hands.
“Thankfully, Sheikh Ahmed and Dhruba are letting me go for the Curragh. I’ll be back here hopefully for the World Cup night to ride Sole Power.”
The world-renowned sprinter is certainly worth a flight back for and Hayes is adamant that Sole Power, entering this season as a nine-year-old, is getting better with age.
“I think he’s like wine – he’s only getting better! If he’s lost any of his spark, I’d have loved to have ridden him in his younger days. The feeling he gives you is phenomenal. He’s top class. Even cantering him down to the start, it’s what you do it for, hairs on the back of your neck, you know?”
