TDN Q&A With Dan Hayden

[Wandering Eyes]

The trip from Duchess County to County Kildare is one Dan Hayden knows well, the sales paddocks of Goffs not far from his childhood home. Eighteen years a stranger in the USA, the bloodstock agent spent this week tapping into the potential of European pedigrees at the Orby Sale, with the long-term goal of his buys following his path West. Amy Lynam spoke to him to find out more.

AL: You bought a filly by Make Believe (GB) on Tuesday and another by The Factor on Wednesday. What can you tell us about them?

DH: I loved the Make Believe filly (lot 40); she was strong, with a good walk, angles, and mind. The fact that the mare’s 2-year-old has won twice and finished fourth in a Group 2 since the catalogue was printed was also attractive—it’s quite impressive for a mare to achieve that with their first foal.

The Factor (lot 314) filly was an impressive individual—big, strong, good-boned, with fantastic movement. She, too, had a bomb-proof temperament. Her sire started a bit slow, but I think he’s coming back with a vengeance now. I think he’ll be a good stallion. I rang [trainer] Brendan Walsh about the 2-year-old half-sister and he really likes her, he thinks she could be a black-type filly.

AL: What are your plans for the two yearlings?

DH: They will both go straight down to Joseph O’Brien and we will race them in Ireland at two and three. We’ll see how they go, but there’s a possibility that they will head to the States later, as is the case with all the yearlings I buy here.

It depends on a number of things; their ability, their ground preference, their particular racing style. We’ll play it by ear and it’s always nice to have the option to move them.

AL: Was it the success of European turf horses in the US that inspired this plan?

DH: That’s exactly it. First of all, superb horses are bred and raised here in Ireland, and that is proven week in, week out, around the world. Goffs also do a great job in promoting the Orby Sale, and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing also do a brilliant job in getting buyers over.

The thing about the Orby is that it’s well selected by Goffs; they have lovely horses here, with beautiful pedigrees, and there’s something to suit every budget, really. You just don’t know if the next champion is lurking around the corner; a good horse can come from anywhere at this sale, at any level.

The main angle in what we’re doing is the quality of the Irish Thoroughbred, and the other is Joseph O’Brien—I think he’s a gifted trainer and has one of the best training facilities in Ireland. He’s also a top-class guy; it’s a combination you want to do business with, in my opinion.

AL: Is this the first year you’ve come to the Orby with this plan in mind?

DH: We started a couple of years ago by buying into a colt here. Named Medal Of Honour (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), he’s won two races for Joseph O’Brien and is about to travel to America to race. He will run in a listed race at Belmont at the end of October.

We’ve also done it the other way round. We bought a colt by Treasure Beach (Ire) at the OBS Two-Year-Old Sale and she is in training with Joseph O’Brien. Named Rehoboth Beach, he is out of a speedy Storm Cat-line mare, which I believe works well with his grandsire, Galileo (Ire).

AL: Have you bought any horses in training with the same goal?

DH: We bought Shalailah (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) privately last year after she finished second to Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Silver Flash S. She’s now with Chad Brown and will run in about four weeks. She’s training very well.

AL: Is there anything you would like Ireland to learn from US racing and bloodstock, and vice versa?

DH: X-rays at all sales make things easier for us. The first thing a US investor will ask if they’re involved in the game is how does the horse vet, and X-rays and scopes are what we’re used to. I like it when vendors have X-rays available.

I love how over here, with Joseph, the breaking process is very thorough and the riders are very good. The horses coming out of Ireland seem to be very sound, so if you begin their careers here, there’s plenty left in the tank after you bring them to the States.

AL: The Irish are known for their skill and affinity with horses; do you think that’s something which stood you in good stead when you made the move Stateside?

DH: We love horses and we’re willing to work hard. That will get you a long way in America.

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