Tag: highland reel

“I Needed A Change” – Seamie Heffernan Explains Ballydoyle Departure

For the first time since 1996, Seamie Heffernan will not be based at Ballydoyle–but Aidan O'Brien's long and trusted ally has revealed that he still hopes to be riding big-race winners in the Coolmore colours in the future. 

It has been one of the worst kept secrets in Irish racing for some time that Heffernan, one of the constants at Ballydoyle for almost three decades now, would not be returning to the fold. 

And on the eve of the opening day of the Flat season in Ireland, Heffernan lifted the lid on the reasons behind taking the decision to step away from Ballydoyle in favour of tackling life “in the fast lane” as a freelance jockey. He also revealed that he has already been approached to ride for one of the major opposition stables.

Heffernan told TDN Europe, “It was my decision. When I look outside my back door on my farm, I know that I have been so privileged because I started off with absolutely zero. I couldn't believe it when I was offered the job behind Christy Roche in Ballydoyle back in 1996. 

“I have made many friends, plenty of money and I have loads of nice pictures and trophies. It's not over yet but I just felt that I needed a change.”

He added, “For me to stay going, I felt it would be easier to stay going by not being based in Ballydoyle. Some lads will raise their eyebrows and wonder why. But, look it, I'm going to continue race riding so, if Aidan wants to use me, it will be absolutely fine. The only difference is that I won't be riding out in Ballydoyle every day anymore.”

Heffernan and O'Brien have categorically denied that there has been any falling out. Speaking to the Racing Post on Sunday, O'Brien said, “Obviously I heard the rumours but I didn't think any more about it. However, Seamus rang me last weekend to say he was going to go freelance. I totally respect that and I told him he's welcome to come back any time he likes, we're always here any time it suits him. That will always be the way, if it ever suits him.”

O'Brien added, “There has been absolutely no falling out in any way. Seamus rode a lot of very big, important winners for us and we'd always hope and wish the very best for Seamus going forward.” 

Together, O'Brien and Heffernan combined to win the Derby at Epsom in 2019 with Anthony Van Dyck, the Oaks in 2012 with Was and five more Irish Derby victories at the Curragh. But Heffernan's personal highlight, marginally behind being offered the Ballydoyle gig in the first place, was guiding globetrotting sensation Highland Reel to victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita in 2016.

Heffernan remembered, “I probably should have won an Arc on Highland Reel but, a couple of weeks later, I hit the nail on the head–that Breeders' Cup win was awesome. That would have to be the one that sticks out. But, I would nearly have to put that second to being offered the job at Ballydoyle in the first place back in 1996. Getting the job was my highlight.”

So what will a day in the life of Heffernan look like this season? Outside of O'Brien, for whom the 51-year-old rode 34 winners from 155 rides domestically last season, Tipperary-based handlers Willie Browne [rides] and Kevin Coleman [22 rides] were also major supporters. Heffernan says that he is committed to maintaining and developing those relationships going forward as well as working closely with a number of longstanding owners to identify young talent. 

Heffernan said, “A change is as good as a holiday. I'm going to be busy and I'm going to be riding on. I feel very fit and I'm very focussed. It's onwards and upwards, hopefully. I have little bits and pieces and interests in horses. When I set my mind on something, I try very hard to make it happen. I'm going to try hard to make things happen this year. I can't call the people I will be riding for smaller trainers–they just don't have the same ammunition as the big boys. I'll be working very closely with some of my owners to get the ammunition and to make it happen for those trainers.”

He continued, “I feel that I have achieved a lot and, for me to stay happy and keep achieving, I needed a change. Hopefully it's the right decision. I can't stress how thankful I am to the Magniers, the Tabors and the Smiths. With their pedigrees, I achieved the most on the biggest stages. I can't stress how thankful I am to them for never saying, 'we don't want Seamie.' I am sure I will ride plenty of winners in their silks again.”

Heffernan has been associated with many of Coolmore's champions, none more high profile than the legendary Galileo, who he partnered to Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial success in 2001.  Coolmore boss John Magnier and his partners are understood to have given Heffernan their full backing in his decision to go freelance after a long and fruitful association riding many of Ballydoyle's big guns. 

He explained, “They completely respected my decision. Whatever I felt was the right thing to do, they had no problem with it. I would be inclined to say I have spent all of my career in the slow lane so maybe I might chance putting on the indicator and heading into the fast lane for a while. Maybe it's time I put myself in the fast lane to see if I can handle it!”

Asked if that meant he had designs on challenging for a championship, Heffernan concluded, “I don't have the ammunition so I don't think I would have any chance. Unless you are riding for Joseph O'Brien, Dermot Weld, those sort of trainers, you can't win a title because you just don't have the numbers. I have been approached [by one of the bigger stables] but I am happy enough for my agent [Ruaidhri Tierny] to do his best and I will do my best for him.”

 

The post “I Needed A Change” – Seamie Heffernan Explains Ballydoyle Departure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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O’Brien’s Hong Kong Challenge Headed By Stone Age And Broome

Aidan O'Brien is preparing a twin assault on the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, a race he has won three times in the past, and Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) are set to represent the Ballydoyle maestro in Sunday's race.

Globetrotting sensation Highland Reel (Ire) won the Hong Kong Vase in 2015 and 2017 before Mogul (GB) bolstered O'Brien's record in the race when landing the Group 1 contest in 2020.

Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who tasted high level success on the international circuit in 2020 by taking out the Breeders' Cup Mile, will be O'Brien's sole representative in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup.

Stone Age was last seen running a fine second in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, a race in which stablemate Broome could only manage a sixth-placed finish, but O'Brien has provided an upbeat bulletin on both horses ahead of Sunday's contest.

He said, “We were delighted with Stone Age at the Breeders' Cup, he ran a very good race and had progressed from his previous run at Ascot. We've been happy with everything we've seen from him since then.

“It had been on my mind to go to Hong Kong since the Breeders' Cup, we thought the track, trip and ground should all suit him fine, we're all looking forward to it.”

Asked if Stone Age could stay in training next year, O'Brien added, “We think and hope he will. Obviously we think he's progressing and he definitely could progress again from three to four.”

Broome will be having his first taste of racing at Sha Tin on Sunday but O'Brien says he thinks the battle-hardened 6-year-old is up to the challenge.

He said, “We were very happy with his run in America, he was a bit slow away, got back a little bit and finished off very well. We had it in our heads that we might go to the Japan Cup, it just came maybe a week or two too early and that's why we waited.

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to come to Hong Kong with him. He's in good form and is a very good natured, very sound horse.”

O'Brien will bid to land the Hong Kong Cup for the first time with Order Of Australia, who he says is capable of being effective over the 10-furlong trip.

“He's been running all the time over a mile, but we always thought stepping up over a-mile-and-a-quarter would improve him more. He's obviously by Australia and we're very happy with him, we'll see what happens on Sunday.

“He has won over seven furlongs twice as well, so we kept him at a mile after the Breeders' Cup win, but we'd think there's a pretty good chance that [10 furlongs] will be fine.”

He added, “Obviously you need horses that don't mind travel, have experience and are still in good shape. It's a fantastic meeting, we speak to a lot of people who will tell you it's a great day. We always like to be involved and are delighted to be invited, especially for very competitive, high-class racing.”

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Seamie Heffernan: ‘Time To Take Prize-Money Off Guilty Jockeys’

Multiple Classic and Breeders' Cup-winning rider Seamie Heffernan thinks taking prize-money off winning jockeys found guilty of careless riding is the best way to avoid controversial climaxes to races.

Heffernan was speaking shortly after Paul Hanagan was handed a 10-day ban for careless riding after winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot aboard 50-1 outsider The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}).

Hanagan, who was recently demoted as Richard Fahey's stable jockey, allowed The Ridler, trained by his former boss, to drift across the track, hampering a number of his rivals in the process.

Despite the fact that an inquiry was called, the stewards found that The Ridler, who had just under two lengths to spare from 7-4 favourite Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at the winning line, had not improved his finishing position by veering across his rivals.

However, Heffernan, who has ridden big-race winners all across the globe, including a memorable Breeders' Cup triumph aboard Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2016, thinks the prospects of guilty jockeys losing out on prize-money could make the sport much safer.

He said, “There's no consistency in the stewarding in Britain and Ireland. Different stewards take a dislike to different riders and trainers. When they have the power to do them, they'll do them. I have seen it countless times, the exact same incident could generate a completely different result, depending on the stewards and the trainers and riders involved.”

Heffernan added, “The best way of dealing with it is taking away the prize-money. It's a grey area and the stewarding is inconsistent. It's a win-at-all-cost mindset at the moment but I bet if you told some of the riders that they would lose the prize-money if you wiped out another rider they'd think twice. I know I'd think twice about what I was doing.”

The Norfolk S. was worth £65,120 to the winner, of which, Hanagan, who described The Ridler as “babyish” and didn't seem to see much wrong with his efforts in the saddle, received just under 10% of the prize-money on top of his riding fee.

Speaking after the race, Hanagan said, “He's still very green and babyish. I always felt I was clear. I don't think they had to stop riding [in behind], that's the impression I got. There's a lot of emotions going through me at the minute. I'm delighted to ride Richard and the owners this winner, so I'll enjoy the moment.”

One of the constants at Ballydoyle for over two decades, Heffernan, famed for his sense of humour, volunteered another way of policing the sport if the governing bodies failed to examine the careless riding rules following Thursday's controversy.

He explained, “Sometimes I'm guilty and I get done for it. Sometimes I'm guilty and I get away with it. That's just the way it is. It's a game of doubt. It's inconsistent.

“Racing is a dangerous sport. There is a reason two ambulances follow horses around in a race. The minute you swing your leg over a horse, you are in danger and, if we could reduce the risk and keep it safe, then that is the right thing to do.”

Heffernan added, “Do you know the lie detector machines? Maybe they should bring them into the stewards room. If you are in racing, you have to be a very good liar. Stick the lie detector on them and watch them sweat!

“A lot of the stewards are there for the greater good of racing but it would be great if we could get a lie detector on some of the jockeys, trainers and owners.”

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Tim Hyde Jnr: ‘I Watched Little Big Bear win on my phone at Wexford Racecourse’

When you run a breeding operation as successful as Camas Park Stud, victories on the biggest stage are expected, but that doesn't make top-level triumphs any less special.

Capri (Ire), Highland Reel (Ire), Nyquist and No Nay Never were all either bred or pinhooked under the banner of the Cashel-based stud, run by Tim Hyde and his son Tim Jnr, who were once again put in lights at Royal Ascot when Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) stormed to victory in the Listed Windsor Castle S. on Wednesday.

Away from all the bright lights and razzmatazz of the royal meeting, Hyde Jnr watched Little Big Bear score for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore on his phone at Wexford racecourse, just under an hour before sending out Mind Your Money (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) to finish second in a novice hurdle at the track.

Speaking on Thursday morning, Hyde Jnr said, “It's great to breed a horse who can do what he did and hopefully he can go on.

“He's a very talented horse and it looks like he will stay six furlongs as well. I'd be hoping he'll go for the [G1] Phoenix S. or the [G1] Prix Morny. It's an easy six [furlongs] in the Prix Morny.”

Hyde added, “I was actually at Wexford yesterday [Wednesday] with Mind Your Money. She ran a blinder to finish second. I watched it on the phone in my car.”

There was a kaleidoscope of emotion surrounding the victory of Little Big Bear. The win was made extra special by the fact that Hyde Snr pinhooked the sire, No Nay Never, however, the result was also tinged in sadness by the fact the stud lost the dam Adventure Seeker (Fr) (Bering {GB}) during foaling this year.

Hyde Jnr said, “We bred Ten Sovereigns here, which was brilliant, and we've bred a lot of good horses over the years. Little Big Bear is special because we have a good association with No Nay Never. Dad was involved in pinhooking No Nay Never and kept an interest in him so we have bred quite a lot of mares to him.”

He added, “Unfortunately we lost the dam foaling this year. She has a yearling colt and a colt foal on the ground, both by No Nay Never. The yearling is likely to be going to Part 1 at Newmarket and the foal is also very nice.

“Little Big Bear was a beautiful looking horse–a real beast. He was much more powerful and bigger than any of the other yearlings in that crop. He always stood out.”

The Hydes may not be finished at Royal Ascot yet. Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), last seen finishing a neck second in the 1000 Guineas, is another to come off the Camas Park conveyor belt and rates a leading player in Friday's G1 Coronation S.

“There was only a neck between Prosperous Voyage and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) at Newmarket and there was only a head between Cachet and Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the French Guineas and none of them are favourite. It's going to be a hell of a race.”

He added, “My brother-in-law, Norman Williamson, sold the winner [Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})] of the [G2] Queen's Vase. I had a share in him as well and we breezed him. It's been a very good week.”

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