The Bull Hayes

The Bull Hayes ran out a really impressive winner of the 10-furlong maiden at Navan on Sunday. Always travelling well for Fran Berry, he tracked the joint-leader, favourite Pittoni, over to the near side at the top of the home straight, and very quickly it became apparent that the pair had it between them. The Bull Hayes appeared to be travelling by far the better, it was just a case of how much he would find when Berry asked him to go and win his race, and the answer was plenty. Berry gave him a kick in the belly on the approach to the final furlong, and the son of Sadler's Wells picked up really impressively, quickening clear to put six lengths between himself and Pittoni, who himself finished three lengths clear of the rest of the field, in a really good time for conditions on the day.

Fifth in the Goffs Million at The Curragh last September and not beaten that far by Mourayan and Oh Goodness Me in the Listed Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown in November, it is obvious now that Jessica Harrington's colt needs a test of stamina to be seen at his best. He is a half-brother to Greenfield, who won over 10 furlongs on the flat and over two and a half miles over hurdles. The testing conditions and track brought his stamina into play on Sunday, but he is ready now for a step up in distance at least to a mile and a half and possibly even beyond. There is a chance that his trainer will bounce him out again now fairly sharpish as long as the ground remains soft. Her horses are in fine form these days, and The Bull Hayes should be worth backing wherever he runs next, especially if he steps up in trip and the ground remains soft.

26th April 2009

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