Chris Hayes partnered his first winner for Noel Meade at Gowran today as the pair won the opening Gowran Park Golf Club Claiming Race with Percy B Shelley

The five year old was today getting off the mark for the first time at the 20th attempt as he finished strongly to pass Castle Guest close home and record a three parts of a length win.

Meade wasn't present and Hayes, who was able to ride at today's 8st6lbs, later stated “it was a nice spare to get. Noel told me to ride him with lots of confidence, he thought with that kind of weight he'd be competitive and he duly obliged.

“He told me to leave him alone as he thought he made a little bit too much use of him the last day and it didn't work. He told me to ride him cold and confident.”

Meade and Hayes had previously teamed up 17 times together without success.

Quotes from Gary Carson