SHANAGOLDEN’S Chris Hayes enjoyed a lovely home victory aboard the Dermot Weld trained Harbour Wind (6/5) in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Martin Molony Stokes at Limerick.
He finished just a short head in front at the finish from 12/1 chance Dancing Tango.
“It was a workmanlike, battling performance under a very good ride from Chris Hayes (the 36-year-old Multiple Grade 1 and Classic Winner),” Weld told reporters in the parade ring.
“It is a few years since I was last in Limerick and while I have been fortunate to win this race a few times, it is always special as Martin Molony rode my mother and father’s first winner in the 1950s.”
The trainer also suggested that the Melbourne Cup – with its winners’ prize of $4.4million – is a possibility for Harbour Wind next November.
“The Melbourne Cup is in my thoughts, but it is early days and we will see how the year progresses.”
Weld has previously won the race ‘that stops a nation’ with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002).
