Hayes guides Capt Chaos to victory

RACING CURRAGH REPORTCAPT CHAOS may not end up a major classic contender in the mould of Henrythenavigator or New Approach but he will always have a place in Chris Hayes's heart after springing a 9 to 1 surprise in yesterday's Group Three Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh.

The outsider of the five runners squeezed past Great War Eagle on the stands rail to provide Hayes, a former triple champion apprentice, with a first Group success and reward trainer Eddie Lynam for his opportunism.

"If you pay any attention to ratings then he shouldn't have run. But he was in good form and we knew he'd handle the soft ground so we let him take his chance," grinned Lynam who declined to nominate any fancy top-flight future targets for Capt Chaos.

Lynam has hit the pattern race board before but it was a new experience for 20-year-old Hayes, the first three-time champion apprentice since Tommy Carmody in the 1970s, who is number one rider to the leading owner, Lady Chryss O'Reilly.

"It's been a long time coming," said the popular jockey who will celebrate his 21st birthday later in the month.

If the Tetrarch was a good result for the bookmakers, then the second of the three Group races on the Coolmore sponsored card was a beano as the 33 to 1 complete outsiders Prima Luce and Emily Blake dominated the Athasi Stakes.

Prima Luce fought back to win and initiate a double for Jim Bolger whose Malande easily won the following mile and a quarter handicap under apprentice Martin Harley.

Bolger also reported his Newmarket 1,000 Guineas third Saoirse Abu will run next in the Irish Guineas while Lush Lashes, sixth on Sunday, will target the Irish Oaks.

A blanket finish to the Mooresbridge Stakes threw up a British winner as Regime overhauled Alarazi by a head with a further neck back to Mores Wells in third and Hasanka a short head behind again in fourth.

Regime, a Sandown Classic Trial winner last year, was greeted by 12 of the 20 members of the Highclere Racing syndicate whose spokesperson Alison Begley reported: "Jamie Spencer said after the John Porter at Newbury that he didn't stay and that we should drop him back to 10 furlongs. Pat (Smullen) gave him a great ride today."

Harry Herbert, racing manager for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing said: "The key thing is decent ground, a mile and a quarter and ridden close enough to the pace, not being asked to come from too far back."

Chris Hayes and Eddie Lynam added to Capt Chaos's Tetrarch victory with Munich's narrow success in the seven furlong handicap.

"This horse works like a machine - and then runs like a washing machine!" was Lynam's summation of Munich. "He actually did a bit today and there's no doubt he has talent. Maybe after winning now he'll come right."

The juvenile battalions at Ballydoyle are starting to hit top gear and Mastercraftsman became the latest winner with a half length defeat of Duc De Savoie in the opening maiden. "He doesn't look like an early type but he has come to himself early. He's a grand big horse and Johnny (Murtagh) gave him a lovely education," said Aidan O'Brien.

The promising amateur Emmett Mullins lost his 7lb claim when Uimheraceathair, trained by his uncle, Willie Mullins, was too good for Total Excitement in the Curragh's sole bumper of the year.

Colm O'Donoghue teamed up with Michael O'Brien for Phoenix Ice in the seven furlong maiden and the four-year-old made up for an inauspicious Dundalk run with a smooth victory in the colours of Noeleen McCreevy, wife of the former Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy.