Amy Jo Hayes

I'm from Fethard, Tipperary and we always had horses at home. My grandfather bred a Grand National winner in 1986 with a horse called West Tip, so there was history going back long ago. I always had ponies at home and I did pony club, hunting with the Tipperary Foxhounds and showjumping. I always wanted to be a jockey. Any time we had to dress up for primary school I was in my gear! It was the same for my confirmation, we had to pick a name of who inspires you and everyone was picking their mother or grandmother or someone they looked up to. Of course, I picked Ruby Walsh and the name I chose then was Ruby! I can say that Ruby inspired me to grow up and be a jockey.

I went to RACE when I was 16. RACE was very good education and you learn a lot more about the real world. They give you a good understanding of how to ride a horse and there was school in the afternoon, so you actually came out with a leaving cert. I loved it. I was placed out with Kevin Prendergast and I later changed to Michael Halford. After RACE i worked in Thomond O'Mara's for two years, so I got a good understanding of the breeze ups, National Hunt horse and Flat horses. He had a bit of everything. There was no work left in O'Mara's and I rang up Joe Murphy to see if he would take me on to ride out and to see how we get on. Obviously, he has a Flat yard which was a bonus because my height and weight were ideal. He gave me my first ride on a horse called Fit For Function at Dundalk in January 2020. Joe Murphy actually gave my father his first ride when he was an amateur riding in point-to-points.

I'm with Andy Slattery three years now. When I saw the likes of (jockeys) Ben (Coen) and Andrew (Slattery) growing up to where they are now, I thought why don't I give it a go for more opportunities. I wasn't there even two weeks and he had me up on a horse. it is amazing what you learn in the space of a month just with different horses, different people and different surroundings. It was like apprentice school, you just learn so much there. He is a genius, he keeps us all levelheaded and he'll give us all our chances. He would be fair to us all. If it is a competitive race or a good horse and you get on well with the horse, you keep the ride. If things don't go so well, he might give someone else a go and see who gets on best with the horse. He's very good to us. I'm part of the family at this stage!

Andy gave me my first winner on Sunset Nova at Navan in April last year, it was for owner Donie O'Connell (and Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate) who used to play for Tipperary hurlers. He always had horses with Andy and was always quite lucky. Andy put me up on Sunset Nova that day and I was last the whole way, and then from a furlong home he just made headway and got his head out in front. I was punching the air as if I had won the Grand National! I couldn't believe it. I think I had about 50 rides before I got my first winner and I kept hitting the crossbar in Dundalk. I wasn't expecting it and when you are not expecting it, it is better again. I remember coming up the straight thinking 'I have a chance here'. I looked over to my left and there was nothing, and I looked over to my right and there was nothing and thought 'I'm going to win this!' I made sure I passed the line before I did any sort of celebration at all. The horse got more hugs and kisses than anyone else! He'll definitely be a horse I won't forget. I couldn't even pull him up in the end I was so excited. I brought my sister and her friends that day and they enjoyed the thrill of it.

I rode him again a week later and I was sixth and the ride after that was another winner, Dedillon, down in Cork. Nigel Slevin noticed my ride on Dedillon and said how balanced and easy-going the filly was for me, and how she stayed on. He got in contact with Andy and asked would I ride Five Zeros and if I could do the bottom-weight. Andy said yes and work away. On my first ride on her, I was second in Gowran Park. Then we ran her the next day and she winged it home at Navan (in May last year). I got three winners altogether on her, I think she got me going really because she was genuine and kept sticking her head out. If you are getting on well with a horse, you get recognised more. I might not be the strongest or most stylish rider, but the horses go for me which is definitely a good thing.

Sunset Nova gave me my second winner on him in Leopardstown last year and they were saying to keep in mid-division, but when you come around the bend be a little bit more on the outer of the stands' side. Watching the race back, you just wonder how I was on the inside and next second, I'm on the outside racing all the way up the hill and he stormed home. The day I won on Burren Song at Leopardstown, the plan again was to be forward, but not too forward as we thought there would be a good gallop going. I was trying to go with that plan on Redstone Well (in the Nasrullah Handicap at Leopardstown this month) - if some were going stronger, hang on, and if not make all and stick to the rail. I stuck to the rail and just came up that bit wider up the straight. It definitely worked out the best. That was my first ride in a premier handicap. Just being involved and having my name down was great. That's why I brought all my family, I brought about three cars with me! I'm three for three on my last rides at Leopardstown, I love it up there now!

Alanya was electric in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh and I think she was very underestimated. Looking back on her form she only ran three times (in France) - she was second first time, won her second race and was fifth on her last run. It was over a year and a bit since she ran and I think it put everybody off. Coming around with four furlongs to go, I thought I had a lot of boot left underneath me. I just wanted that inner rail and she didn't half storm home. She was actually meant to run in the premier handicap I won on Redstone Well, but she was lame. It would be nice to see her progress as well too. She is a filly with a big future ahead of her. I have only ever ridden in four lady races and I have won three of them.

I rode seven winners last year and have four this year. I remember Kevin O'Ryan asking me (on Racing TV) what my goals were after riding my first winner and I said the goal was to get the first winner out of the way and I would worry about everything else afterwards. I got Dave Keena as my agent after my winner in Ballinrobe (Redstone Well last month). I was actually advised by Rachael Blackmore, she told me you're better off having an agent. I was trying myself ringing up for rides and they would say they would see what they could do. I rang Dave Keena on the way home from Ballinrobe and he said he would take me on. He got me the ride on Alanya and got me another outside ride for Ken Condon. I am open to outside rides.

Before any of my winners, you are working and slaving your way through and you are thinking 'will my day come?'. I was nearly riding for a year and a half before I got a winner. Once I had the first winner, less than a week later I had the second winner. When you get the feeling of a winner, you just want more and more. You get hungry for it.

I love the racing industry because I know nothing else, I love working with horses and talking to horses. I don't think the outside world realises how much care the horses get. If you are injured you could be in A&E for three to four hours, if a horse is injured the vet could be out in the space of 10 to 20 minutes. I love horses and I love racing, If I wasn't a jockey I would still be somewhere with a horse. It is the bond you have with the horse and you can't take that away from someone.