Tahiyra and Chris Hayes won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on her last start. © Photo Healy Racing
Jockey Chris Hayes is confident of a big show from Irish 1000 Guineas winner Tahiyra in Saturday's Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
The Dermot Weld trained filly, who was a leading juvenile last term, started her campaign with a narrow defeat in the Newmarket classic in May. Her trainer had warned that she was a shade behind schedule and would improve from that run.
So it proved, with the Aga Khan owned three-year-old taking a significant step forward to land the Irish Guineas on her next start, before following up in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Hayes feels that quick ground can see the filly at her best: "It was good to firm at the Curragh and good to firm at Royal Ascot. It was probably a shade quicker in Ascot. That was her best performance so far this year."
With everything having run smoothly of late, Hayes is very hopeful for Saturday: "Her preparation has gone good. She is in great shape. She had her break after Ascot and has come back stronger. She feels well.
"I had a sit on her during the week. She has one more piece of work to get through, then it's all systems go for the Matron Stakes at the weekend."
