Before David Hayes joins the buying bench on Sunday he is determined to take some Kiwi cash with Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) in Saturday's L. Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
"To compete internationally is always terrific, and plenty of Kiwis come our way and win, so it's nice to do the reverse," Hayes said on Thursday, in between inspecting lots.
"We are pretty confident he can run a race for us."
"Plenty of Kiwis come our way and win, so it's nice to do the reverse." - David Hayes
Long Leaf had only touched down four hours earlier but the trainer said his smart stakes winner was showing all of the right signs.
"He just got here, but he travelled well and he is staying in the wonderful stables at Brendan Lindsay's just down the road," Hayes said. "He will just have a little canter before the race, he did most of his work before he left."
Long Leaf was purchased out of Curraghmore's draft for $750,000 at the 2017 sale and is raced by a group that includes interests from Coolmore Australia and Ireland, plus Karaka owner Sir Peter Vela.
Hayes said the colt will head back to Australia and be aimed at the G1 Australian Guineas.
"We loved him as a yearling, he was a terrific 2-year-old and there's no reason why he can't be competitive in those top 3-year-old races," Hayes said.
Long Leaf with David Hayes
Hayes family history
The Hayes family history with New Zealand stretches back more than three decades, with David's late father Colin going close to winning the 1987 G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni with Glorious Way (Godswalk {USA}).
Hayes has only had one previous runner at Karaka's feature raceday with Optimizing (Exceed And Excel) finishing seventh in the 2009 L. Karaka Millions.
They may have yet to win on the racetrack, but the family's history of buying out of sales and races has been much more successful and if you want to get Hayes talking just ask him about the Karaka complex.
"I just love how established it is with all of the trees and how much room there is to look at the horses." - David Hayes
"I just love how established it is with all of the trees and how much room there is to look at the horses," he said. "There are lovely walkways to look at the horses' conformations. It is the best one I have been to."
The Karaka sales complex
The predominance of European imports in Australian middle-distance and staying events means New Zealand-bred horses are no longer the go-to option for G1 Caulfield and G1 Melbourne Cup horses but Hayes is still a big believer in the quality of the breed.
"That changed because of all of those English imports, there are 200 or 300 a year that come in from England and Europe each year now, and they used to be the horses by Sovereign Edition (Ire) or Sir Tristram (Ire) that people would buy as Cups horses."
David Hayes describes Karaka as the place you need to be if you are serious about buying a horse
"These days people don't come to buy a stayer, they come to buy a good horse. This is where you come to buy a horse you like."
"This is where you come to buy a horse you like." - David Hayes
Hayes said longevity and durability were still hallmarks of the New Zealand-bred galloper and that the Australian classics were still the domain of horses from across the Tasman, "especially when we get those wet days in autumn in Sydney"
"The 3-year-olds do well and New Zealand is an intrinsic part of the bloodstock world," he said. "If you are serious about buying horses then you need to be here."
