Lindsay Park’s senior trainer spent a decade there from 1996, during which time he sent out 17 Hong Kong Group 1 winners and claimed the trainers’ premiership in 1997-98 and 1998-99.
In each of his nine seasons, he finished in the top four on the trainers’ table with a total of 458 winners, including the G1 Hong Kong Derby with Elegant Fashion (Danewin) and the G1 Hong Kong Sprint International with All Thrills Too (St Covet).
“Using my late father’s motto the future belongs to those who plan for it, I’m really excited to announce that I am taking up a trainer’s licence in the booming racing economy of Hong Kong,” Hayes said.
“I haven’t taken this decision lightly and over the last 15 years we’ve been developing Lindsay Park into a world class training centre.”
“I haven’t taken this decision lightly and over the last 15 years we’ve been developing Lindsay Park into a world class training centre.” – David Hayes.
After returning from Hong Kong in 2005, Hayes trained in his own right from Lindsay Park before taking his nephew Tom Dabernig into partnership in 2014 and two years later son Ben came into the fold.
Hayes said he will leave the training operations at Lindsay Park, Flemington, Pakenham and Randwick in experienced and reliable hands.
David Hayes, Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes
“I have full confidence in my team. Tom Dabernig, who’s been working at Lindsay Park all his working life, and Ben Hayes, who’s worked the last 10 years under me, will continue the training operation.
“I’m really excited about watching the boys flourish. I’m sure they’ll do well and I’m only going to be a phone call away.
“Lindsay Park is my lifetime’s work and I can assure all of my clients that it will be business as usual.”
“Lindsay Park is my lifetime’s work and I can assure all of my clients that it will be business as usual.” – David Hayes.
Hayes first took charge of Lindsay Park at the start of the 1990-91 season, following his late father Colin’s retirement.
He enjoyed an extraordinary start and in his first season won the G1 Cox Plate with Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}), set a world record of six Group winners in a day at Flemington on Derby Day and then won the G1 Japan Cup with Better Loosen Up a month later.
David Hayes and Better Loosen Up
Hayes has since won a host of other Australian Group 1 features, including the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Golden Slipper S., Australian Cup, VRC Derby, VRC Oaks, Queen Elizabeth S., Blue Diamond S. and the Newmarket H.
The youngest trainer to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2008, he has trained more than 4000 winners and is edging closer to 100 Group 1 victories.
Hayes is viewed by the Hong Kong Racing Club as the ideal high-profile replacement for the champion trainer John Moore, who will retire next year. The mandatory retirement age is 65 and he was granted an age extension until his 70th birthday next March.
Champion trainer John Moore will retire next year
Moore has been champion trainer in Hong Kong five times and prepared the winners of all the feature events, guiding the careers of such stars as Able Friend (Shamardal {USA}), Able One (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Viva Pataca (GB) (Marju {Ire}) and current Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock).
