Latest news with #BenHayes
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Rise At Dawn primed to spring upset in Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup
Kingsford Smith Cup contender Rise At Dawn is the Hayes brothers' 'ugly duckling' who has done what superstar stablemate Mr Brightside couldn't. Will Hayes, who trains alongside his brothers Ben and JD, pointed out that Rise At Dawn won the Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington in February first-up in his preparation, an achievement that even the great Mr Brightside couldn't pull off in 2022. 'By no means is this an easy race,' he said about the Group 1 $1m Kingsford Smith, which offers a golden ticket to the Stradbroke Handicap for the winner. 'He's certainly going to be right there to the finish because he's a horse with tremendous high-cruising speed and he does get pretty quick to the corner. 'I remember what he did first-up in The Elms in the autumn. He goes pretty good first-up so we're very excited for the weekend. 'Mr Brightside actually kicked off one preparation in The Elms and wasn't able to do it so he's certainly in pretty good company.' Four-year-old Rise At Dawn is a $17 chance for the Kingsford Smith Cup, well behind favourite Joliestar ($2.90), Giga Kick ($5), Benedetta ($7.50) and Bosustow ($8.50) in the market. The gelding that co-trainer Ben Hayes last month described as an 'ugly duckling, but he's all heart' was initially slated to run in last weekend's Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) but a bad barrier draw led to his scratching. 'We decided to bide our time and I'm glad we did because we've come up with a very good barrier (one) in what looks to be a competitive race,' Will Hayes said. 'It's a weight-for-age path as well so if we win, it doesn't change our weight in the Stradbroke (52.5kg).' Asked about the 'ugly duckling' reference, Will said: 'He's certainly not a picture by any means. 'It's a bit like there's no such thing as an ugly rich bloke and there's no such thing as an ugly fast horse. 'He's by Almanzor and he keeps rising to every occasion.' A Kingsford Smith Cup victory would not only secure a spot in the Stradbroke, but the $600,000 winner's cheque would push Rise At Dawn's prizemoney well beyond the $1m mark. 'I think you can make a case for probably eight horses in the race,' Hayes said. 'They'll more than likely be having to give us a decent start but we're meeting them all at set weights so it's going to be a very good barometer as we head towards the Stradbroke.' Rise At Dawn flopped in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington in the autumn before his last start, an impressive fourth in the $4m Group 1 Doncaster Mile, which was won by last year's Stradbroke Handicap champion Stefi Magnetica on April 5.
South China Morning Post
23-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hayes family dreams of international Group One double with Ka Ying Rising and Mr Brightside
One of Australian racing's greatest family dynasties is dreaming of a famous international Group One double with superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising and nine-time Group One winner Mr Brightside at Sha Tin on Sunday. Three generations of the Hayes family have built an imposing legacy over 78 years, with the Lindsay Park name a constant force in Australia's biggest races. But on Hong Kong's second-biggest meeting of the year, Ben Hayes – who trains Mr Brightside in partnership with brothers Will and JD – said winning the Champions Mile and their father David claiming the Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) with Ka Ying Rising would be an unmatched feat for the famous family. 'If we're able to get the dream and they both win, it will probably be the best day Lindsay Park and our dad have ever had together,' Ben Hayes said. 'It's very unique. We get to have a Group One runner on the same day as our dad.' The late Colin Hayes started the dynasty when he launched his training career in South Australia in 1947. In a 43-year career, he prepared 5,333 winners – including 524 Group and Listed winners – and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. His son David took the reins of Lindsay Park in 1990 at the age of 28 and made an immediate impact, which led to the opportunity to train in Hong Kong in 1996. In his first stint in the city, David won two championships, and a Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), before returning to Australia in 2005. David became the first trainer in Hong Kong's professional era to return to train in the city in 2020, with Lindsay Park left in good hands with his nephew Tom Dabernig and eldest son, Ben. In 2023, Ben was joined in a training partnership by twin brothers Will and JD, and Mr Brightside quickly established himself as the trio's flag-bearer. Mr Brightside has often been considered for a trip to Hong Kong but finally makes his international debut on Sunday, bidding to add to his strong record, which includes 19 wins and a close second to Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior in the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley. 'From a travelling point of view, couldn't be happier with the way he's settled in,' said Ben Hayes, who spent many of his formative years in Hong Kong along with his brothers during David's first stint in the city. 'We feel he's heading in the right direction heading into Sunday.' In one of the strongest editions of the Champions Mile in recent years, Mr Brightside takes on the likes of Hong Kong's star miler Voyage Bubble, fellow Australian galloper Royal Patronage, Classic Mile hero and Hong Kong Derby runner-up My Wish, and Japan's Gaia Force. 'It is a strong race, but he is a nine-time Group One winner. He deserves to be here and if you look at his record, he's always around the mark,' Ben Hayes said. 'Obviously the favourite [Voyage Bubble] is going to be very hard to beat. One thing in our advantage, I know this track drains very well but he will get a track with give. 'If he gets a track with give, he improves. If you look at his wet-track record, he's nearly undefeated, so that would give us more confidence. If we get a barrier where he can take a sit, that would give us confidence again. We're very happy with him.' Top Australian jockey Craig Williams will ride Mr Brightside, while Ka Ying Rising will be a raging favourite to notch a 12th consecutive victory in the Chairman's Sprint Prize. The Hayes family will be represented in all three Group Ones on Champions Day, with David's Classic Cup (1,800m) winner Rubylot set for the QE II Cup (2,000m).
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Illegal tobacco products seized during raids
Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been taken off Devon and Somerset's streets as part of a major operation. Trading Standards South West (TSSW) and police officers visited 50 premises across the region during a week of action from 10 to 14 March. The crackdown - part of Operation CeCe - seized 127,371 illegal cigarettes, 65.94kg (2,326 oz) of illegal hand rolling tobacco (HRT), 4,490 illegal vapes and 2.5kg (88 oz) of shisha in the South West with a total value in the region of £186,000. TSSW said the haul included 20,580 cigarettes, 21.82kg (770 oz) of HRT and 266 illegal vapes with a value of £36,459 in the Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset Council areas. Ben Hayes, the regional illegal tobacco and vape lead at TSSW, said the operation had been "successful" and disrupted criminals operating in the South West. "Members of [the] public need to be aware of [the] serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs," he said. "I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West." Other council areas where raids were carried out included Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Cornwall and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, TSSW said. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Illegal tobacco and vapes seized from shop Illegal vapes and cigarettes seized from shop Trading Standards South West Devon and Cornwall Police Avon and Somerset Police
BBC News
17-03-2025
- BBC News
Illegal tobacco products seized during South West raids
Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been taken off Devon and Somerset's streets as part of a major Standards South West (TSSW) and police officers visited 50 premises across the region during a week of action from 10 to 14 crackdown - part of Operation CeCe - seized 127,371 illegal cigarettes, 65.94kg (2,326 oz) of illegal hand rolling tobacco (HRT), 4,490 illegal vapes and 2.5kg (88 oz) of shisha in the South West with a total value in the region of £186, said the haul included 20,580 cigarettes, 21.82kg (770 oz) of HRT and 266 illegal vapes with a value of £36,459 in the Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset Council areas. Ben Hayes, the regional illegal tobacco and vape lead at TSSW, said the operation had been "successful" and disrupted criminals operating in the South West."Members of [the] public need to be aware of [the] serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs," he said."I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West."Other council areas where raids were carried out included Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Cornwall and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, TSSW said.
