‘It was a different kick to riding a winner’ - top jockey Chris Hayes on the mark at Goffs with €150,000 Mehmas filly

Leading jockey Chris Hayes swapped the saddle for the sales ring on Tuesday, and was among the breeders toasting a successful day at the Goffs November Foal Sale after his homebred Mehmas filly was sold for €150,000.

The youngster was consigned by Clare Manning’s Boherguy Stud and was knocked down to agent Alex Butler. 

Hayes certainly knows plenty about the pedigree as he partnered the dam, Shahaada, nine times during her career, including when winning a Clonmel maiden for Kevin Prendergast and when third in the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes for Patrick Hayes. Moreover, Shahaada is a daughter of Awtaad, who Hayes guided to Classic glory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. 

“That was very exciting - it was a different kick to riding a winner!” said Hayes, who was joined by his wife Rachel. “I was pretty confident in her, Rachel did most of the prep, I just turned up, and Clare did a great job in getting her sold. We’re obviously over the moon as she made more than we thought. I’m known for silly celebrations, and all I was short of was doing that!” 

Having initially raced for Shadwell’s founder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Shahaada transferred to the colours of Hayes’ wife. Explaining how Shahaada made her way into the couple’s broodmare band, Hayes said: “The dam was in Kevin's and was owned by Sheikh Hamdan. 

The Mehmas filly bred by top jockey Chris HayesCredit: Sophie Webber Photography

“When he passed away and Sheikha Hissa took over, I spoke to Angus Gold and thankfully Sheikha Hissa agreed that she’d like me to have her. I bought the mare privately and we kept her in training. I put her in foal to Starman, she improved from a rating 73 to 95 and we got her black type. We like the Starman filly and decided to keep her, so we are looking forward to putting her in training. She's being broken at the moment and I will sit on her in a fortnight.” 

Hayes added: “Shahaada is in foal to Mehmas again. The O'Callaghans have been very good supporters of us from our first foal. They have top stallions, and when they have been good to us, why not support them?” 

After signing the six-figure docket, Butler said: “She’s for a client but I’m not sure what the plan is at this exact moment. She’ll go back to the client’s farm and then we’ll make a decision about where she goes next.

"She has scope and she’s an athletic, racy filly. She’s got a lovely pedigree too and obviously Mehmas is an unbelievable stallion. He’s getting success every day, getting winners at the Breeders’ Cup, he’s just phenomenal. We knew she was going to be expensive because trade is very strong. We’d expected to have to push the boat out.”

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