Latest news with #BenHayes
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes target metro title after claiming Victorian premiership
Lindsay Park has sights on challenging Ciaron Maher in the Melbourne training premiership. Brothers Ben, JD and Will Hayes claimed the state title last season, with 240 Victorian winners. Lindsay Park saddled 253½ winners Australia-wide – up from 199 the previous season. Co-trainer Ben Hayes credited the success to the Lindsay Park collective – staff, owners and horses. • 'Since being in partnership – JD and I, and then Will, JD and I – every year we have had really nice improvement and last year, we were very annoyed we didn't get 200,' Hayes said. 'It's a great effort by the whole team behind us, who are working really hard. 'We get really good support from our owners and we've got a great team (horses) behind us now.' Evaporate and Shining Smile produced five wins apiece for Lindsay Park last season, while five other horses including Dublin Journal, Marble Arch, Rise At Dawn saluted on four occasions. Mr Brightside and inherited War Machine, previously trained by late Michael Moroney, combined for six wins, three at the highest level and about $6m prizemoney. Despite the overall Victorian success, Lindsay Park trailed the powerhouse Maher yard 113 winners to 69 in the metropolitan trainers' premiership but saddled 300 fewer starters in Melbourne. 'Will, JD and I are just proud (of the results) and hopefully, we've got a big task ahead of us next year to try and beat what we've set this year,' Hayes said. 'It's definitely been our best year to date … to be leading Victorian trainer for all wins is a good effort, hopefully, we'll be a little bit more competitive next year with metro, that's our aim.' Lindsay Park improved its metropolitan output 66 to 69 year-on-year. 'We trained a couple more metro winners this year, I think we've got the quality to improve again,' Hayes said. 'Ciaron has been dominant for years now, it would be good to hopefully make it a bit more even but we'll be trying our best and being as competitive as we can be.' Hayes could make an impression on Saturday at Flemington with six starters, including Aztec State. 'He didn't win the other day but it was a huge run,' Hayes said. 'He's building nicely and could pop up.' Lindsay Park has the firepower to compete anywhere, anytime this season with Mr Brightside, War Machine, Evaporate and Rise At Dawn primed for spring campaigns. Shining Smile, Scenic Point, Tycoon Star spearhead generation next. Hayes said Lindsay Park Euroa, Flemington and Pakenham stables were 'probably at capacity now', with horses inherited from late Melbourne Cup-winner Moroney and Godolphin more recently. 'There's been a big influx of horses and also had good support from our two-year-olds,' Hayes said. 'There's lots of exciting unraced ones too, which is great … full steam ahead. 'We have got to work harder than ever to try and win that metro premiership.' Mr Brightside is slated to trial on Monday. 'He's building up well, he looks great,' Hayes said. 'We cannot fault him.' Stradbroke Handicap-winner War Machine is being aimed at the next month in a bid to boost potential The Everest stocks.
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lindsay Park colt Shining Smile continues sprint dominance at Flemington with fifth straight win
Shining Smile refused to break his winning habit at Saturday's Flemington meeting. Shining Smile strung together four straight wins before going for a break following a Listed success at Flemington in March but had to work to make it five in a row in the VRC Member Sarah Hart Trophy (1000m). The Spirit Of Boom colt carried 59.5kg after apprentice Logan Bates' claim but would not wilt in the last 200m, getting the better of Oyster Lane late in the race despite giving the runner-up 4kg. The youngster's latest win took his stakes tally to more than $480,000 in seven starts, thrilling co-trainer Ben Hayes. 'He's done a great job today,' Hayes, who trains Shining Smile in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, said. 'To carry a big weight and give weight to all his competition like he did and be as tough as he was through the line, it's really exciting. 'Arguably, he's the best performed two-year-old for the whole year, albeit not in the big races. 'He's won three stakes races and he's got an exciting future ahead of him.' Shining Smile + Flemington Straight = ðŸ˜�ðŸ˜�ðŸ˜� Five in a row for the Hayes trained colt, he's a beauty! @Logez27 @lindsayparkrace â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025 • Derby path looms for Busuttin-Young stayer The Lindsay Park operation has always been known as a prolific producer of two-year-old winners, a reputation that stretching back decades to family patriarch Colin Hayes's days. Hayes said two-year-old winners had been a focus for the stable in the last two seasons, an approach that has borne fruit this season. 'It's been our best year to date with two-year-olds,' Hayes said. 'I think we've had nearly 30 winners for the year. 'It's something that we've really worked on in the last couple of years and something that our father (David) was very good at. 'It's nice to have a very good season and we've got some really exciting horses coming into the spring now.' Shining Smile will be one of Lindsay Park's representatives in three-year-old sprints early next season, including the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 16. Hayes said the consistent galloper's prowess down the Flemington straight could lead him to tackle top company later in the spring as part of a Lindsay Park three-year-old assault on the carnival. 'He's a tough horse and he loves a fight,' Hayes said. 'We're really looking forward to seeing what he's got. 'He's got a pretty good record down the straight so he could be a horse for a race like the Coolmore. 'He's going to be right in a race like that.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Malvern Town show ruthless side in Westfields win
MALVERN Town scored four first half goals as they overcame Westfields 4-2 at Allpay Park. Following their 3-3 draw against Caerau Ely on Saturday Fields had a tough test on their hands with the visit of non-league step four side Malvern. Advertisement Town were beaten play-off finalists in the Southern League Division One South last season and will be looking for promotion this term. Malvern broke the deadlock with their first sight on goal and just three minutes on the clock. A long throw-in was flick on inside the Fields box to Ben Hayes who fired low past the goalkeeper. The visitors showed their movement off the ball and almost found a way back through on goal, only for defender Adam Saunston to cut out a dangerous run. Higher graded Malvern remained a threat in the opening quarter of the match, but a last-ditch Cam Davies challenge saved the hosts. Advertisement Striker Aidan Clark went close to an equaliser up the other end and saw his effort take a wicked deflection past the goalkeeper before dropping just wide. Malvern were two goals ahead on the 14th minute when Ibrahim Olateju drove through the defence before finding a trialist to beat the goalkeeper. The hosts were three goals ahead four minutes later when Hayes picked up the ball outside the box and sent a wicked shot past goalkeeper Shay Sterry. Fields were searching for a way back into the game but almost conceded an unfortunate fourth goal when a chance shot bounced over the head of goalkeeper Sterry before bouncing back off the crossbar. Advertisement Sterry was kept busy in the first half and took command of his box on 34 minutes to stop a dangerous corner bouncing inside the box. Malvern were in the mood for further goals and Hayes was only denied his hat-trick by a fine Davies challenge. However, moments later the ball came onto the edge of the box for Joe Tumelty who tucked his effort into the bottom corner to make it 4-0 with 35 minutes gone. Moon's side reduced their deficit just two minutes later with a fine piece of skill by Clark who pulled the ball back to beat his marker and then netted. Heyes was determined to complete his hat-trick but sent his headed effort wide at the front post. Advertisement Clark continued to remain a threat for the visitors and saw his effort saved before Zac Powell was also denied by shot stopper Locke moments later. Two minutes before half-time Fields were back to 4-2 when Adam Hockey's long ball forward was knocked down by Clark into the path of Hayes. Malvern continued to look for more goals after the break and Curtis Smith sent a testing shot which flew over. Despite making a host of changes at the break Westfields and Sterry pulled off a spectacular save on the hour mark to deny Matt Ferguson's close-range header in Malvern's only second half chance.
The Australian
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
‘The boys have done it': David Hayes proud of sons' landmark Stradbroke Handicap success
Proud dad David Hayes declared his sons 'might have a very good horse on their hands' as War Machine broke the Stradbroke Handicap duck of the famous Lindsay Park racing dynasty in sensational style. David Hayes was watching online from Hong Kong as the progressive four-year-old gelding that is trained by his sons, Ben, JD and Will, franked his tag as $3.20 Stradbroke favourite. Emotions ran high as the horse formerly trained by the late, great Mike Moroney surged to Stradbroke glory despite a late scare from runner-up Yellow Brick, the Queenslander who was sent out at $41 but almost created a Stradbroke shock. Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! Seasoned campaigner Private Eye finished third after being stamped urgent and sent forward at the start, with Joe Pride always concerned that his horse carrying 57kg might be overrun by a talented lightweight. It seems extraordinary that the famed Lindsay Park dynasty, stretching back decades, never had a Stradbroke winner until Saturday. They hadn't had a Doncaster winner either until the new generation Hayes boys trained the star Mr Brightside. David Hayes feels War Machine might be something out of the box. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Stradbroke Handicap 'The way he won, to run away with it like that, he might be a very good horse,' David Hayes told Racenet from Hong Kong. 'My boys were always confident that he was a Group 1 performer and they have been proven right. 'As long as the horse stays sound, I am sure there are more Group 1s to come. 'Personally, I didn't go to Queensland with a lot of my horses when I was training in Australia but it is certainly great for the family to have now won a Stradbroke. 'The boys have done it.' There were plenty of feel-good stories in the Stradbroke with Rothfire letting no-one down when finishing seventh and only beaten three lengths on a firm track that was never going to be in his sweet spot. Truck driver and hobby trainer Craig Cousins was happy enough with the performance of The Inflictor, finishing 11th and beaten less than five lengths, although he cursed the fact he wasn't able to get much clear air in the run. War Machine had been Stradbroke favourite since his dominant win in the Group 3 BRC Sprint but there had been those questioning his stranglehold on the betting market. • 'Would have been a Straddie force': Pier wins consolation in style Even owner Rupert Legh told Racenet last week that he couldn't possibly be backing War Machine at the odds on offer. It was Legh's fourth Stradbroke win and his thoughts would have been with his great mate Moroney who first identified War Machine as a New Zealander to bring to Australian shores. Co-trainer Ben Hayes also paid tribute to the late Moroney and hailed the performance of the horse. 'We're very proud, it was an amazing result today,' Ben Hayes said. 'We're fortunate to be able to get that horse from Mike Moroney and he's an amazing, exciting horse. 'It's funny, a lot of people expect him to be a big, powerful horse. 'But he's got a physique like Mr Brightside, so hopefully he's the same.' Co-trainer Ben Hayes was thrilled with the win. Picture: Trackside Photography Jockey Tim Clark picked up the ride on War Machine after never having ridden him before. 'I can't take too much credit for it,' Clark said. 'What a great job by Ben and his brothers to just have him spot on for today. 'I was just the lucky one to get the call up.' Queenslander Yellow Brick, trained by father and daughter team Tony and Maddy Sears, ran the race of his life, and looked set to make things very interesting as he launched a run but failed to nab War Machine. 'I'm really proud of his effort,' jockey Andrew Mallyon said. 'We all feel vindicated as we thought he would run a big race today.' Tony Gollan's Stradbroke contender Transatlantic, who only sneaked into the field on Friday as an emergency, was strongly backed to start $9 but didn't have any luck from a wide barrier and finished ninth.
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
War Machine does it with ease in the Stradbroke Handicap
Proud dad David Hayes declared his sons 'might have a very good horse on their hands' as War Machine broke the Stradbroke Handicap duck of the famous Lindsay Park racing dynasty in sensational style. David Hayes was watching online from Hong Kong as the progressive four-year-old gelding that is trained by his sons, Ben, JD and Will, franked his tag as $3.20 Stradbroke favourite. Emotions ran high as the horse formerly trained by the late, great Mike Moroney surged to Stradbroke glory despite a late scare from runner-up Yellow Brick, the Queenslander who was sent out at $41 but almost created a Stradbroke shock. Seasoned campaigner Private Eye finished third after being stamped urgent and sent forward at the start, with Joe Pride always concerned that his horse carrying 57kg might be overrun by a talented lightweight. It seems extraordinary that the famed Lindsay Park dynasty, stretching back decades, never had a Stradbroke winner until Saturday. They hadn't had a Doncaster winner either until the new generation Hayes boys trained the star Mr Brightside. David Hayes feels War Machine might be something out of the box. 'The way he won, to run away with it like that, he might be a very good horse,' David Hayes told Racenet from Hong Kong. 'My boys were always confident that he was a Group 1 performer and they have been proven right. 'As long as the horse stays sound, I am sure there are more Group 1s to come. 'Personally, I didn't go to Queensland with a lot of my horses when I was training in Australia but it is certainly great for the family to have now won a Stradbroke. 'The boys have done it.' War Machine WINS the G1 Stradbroke Handicap! ðŸ�† Tim Clark with a flawless performance in the saddle! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 There were plenty of feel-good stories in the Stradbroke with Rothfire letting no-one down when finishing seventh and only beaten three lengths on a firm track that was never going to be in his sweet spot. Truck driver and hobby trainer Craig Cousins was happy enough with the performance of The Inflictor, finishing 11th and beaten less than five lengths, although he cursed the fact he wasn't able to get much clear air in the run. War Machine had been Stradbroke favourite since his dominant win in the Group 3 BRC Sprint but there had been those questioning his stranglehold on the betting market. Even owner Rupert Legh told Racenet last week that he couldn't possibly be backing War Machine at the odds on offer. It was Legh's fourth Stradbroke win and his thoughts would have been with his great mate Moroney who first identified War Machine as a New Zealander to bring to Australian shores. Co-trainer Ben Hayes also paid tribute to the late Moroney and hailed the performance of the horse. 'We're very proud, it was an amazing result today,' Ben Hayes said. 'We're fortunate to be able to get that horse from Mike Moroney and he's an amazing, exciting horse. 'It's funny, a lot of people expect him to be a big, powerful horse. 'But he's got a physique like Mr Brightside, so hopefully he's the same.' Jockey Tim Clark picked up the ride on War Machine after never having ridden him before. 'I can't take too much credit for it,' Clark said. 'What a great job by Ben and his brothers to just have him spot on for today. 'I was just the lucky one to get the call up.' Queenslander Yellow Brick, trained by father and daughter team Tony and Maddy Sears, ran the race of his life, and looked set to make things very interesting as he launched a run but failed to nab War Machine. 'I'm really proud of his effort,' jockey Andrew Mallyon said. 'We all feel vindicated as we thought he would run a big race today.' Tony Gollan's Stradbroke contender Transatlantic, who only sneaked into the field on Friday as an emergency, was strongly backed to start $9 but didn't have any luck from a wide barrier and finished ninth.
