Limerick jockey celebrates 1,000 career wins on Irish soil

Chris Hayes, the accomplished jockey from Limerick, reached a major career milestone on Tuesday evening as Starford clinched victory in the Conor Cassidy Car Sales Handicap at Roscommon, marking his 1,000th winner.

"I've been keeping an eye on it for the last six months really because I've been saying to everyone when I get to 1000 I'll retire. I didn't think I would do it this quick and coming here I thought I would be waiting another day," Hayes told Racing TV, reflecting on the achievement.

He expressed his appreciation for riding a horse trained by Joseph O’Brien, acknowledging the importance of the opportunity.

"So, very grateful to Joseph (O'Brien) and Dylan (Browne) was full of compliments for the horse. I'm proud of it, it's nice to do it for the likes of Joseph as well. It was a good spare and I'll have to pay Dylan back," added Hayes.

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He emphasized how meaningful the milestone was to him, especially considering the high level of competition in Irish racing.

"I'm very proud of it, it's not easy done over here. There's brilliant riders in there and grateful to get the opportunities and there's plenty of luck to get on some nice horses. That was pot luck getting on for Joseph (O'Brien), proud of it and it means a lot."

Hayes, who hails from Shanagolden, secured his first win in 2004. Now 38 years old, he took a moment to remember his former mentor, Kevin Prendergast, who passed away recently.

"Lord have Mercy on him, it was this day last week that we laid Kevin (Prendergast) to rest. He was instrumental in it, I had 166 of those winners were for him. He'd have been proud of that as well."

Hayes has been in fine form recently. Last Wednesday, he guided Esherann, trained by Dermot Weld, to a narrow win in the final one-mile maiden at Naas. The 100/30 shot edged out Paddy Twomey’s 1/4 favourite Standard Deviation, ridden by Billy Lee, by half a length.

Continuing his strong week, Hayes claimed another victory on Sunday at the Curragh, this time aboard Sujet in the opening one-mile-one-furlong handicap. The Dermot Weld-trained gelding, owned by Juddmonte, stayed on powerfully to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths at 10/1 odds.