Wayne Hassett rode his sixth career winner on Wednesday evening at Punchestown Racecourse onboard the Timothy Doyle 5/2 Favourite Wrist Art in the “Return Of Jumps October 10^th & 11^th Handicap”. 

Wayne who is an apprentice to one of Irelands top trainers Joseph O’ Brien, gave the six-year-old bay gelding Wrist Art a confident ride, tracking the leaders towards the outside, moving into second two furlongs out, and led a furlong and a half from the finish line, to finish the strongest of the thirteen runner field, under a strong right-handed drive from the seven-pound claimer Hassett, to see off Qaabil who was four lengths behind ridden by Paddy Harnett for trainer Peter Fahey. This was Tim Doyle’s fifth winner within three weeks, with Tims wife Claire present too, who plays a huge part in the yard too on an every day basis in the Moyne yard Co. Tipperary.

I interviewed Wayne at Navan Racecourse on September 2nd where Wayne had his first ride for trainer Tim Doyle onboard Special Protector finishing third, and only beaten less than half a length. The seventeen-year-old from Killenaule Co. Tipperary who also rides out for his granduncle Martin Hassett, and has ridden three winners for him to date. Wayne who weighs 7 stone 11 pounds and has no problem with doing light weights, and keeps an eye on his weight every day with getting on the scales each morning before his early start at Joseph O’ Brien’s yard in Owning Co. Kilkenny. For a seventeen-year-old young apprentice with ninety-six rides to date and six winners. 

Wayne seems to be very level headed, who can only speak highly of his boss Joseph O’ Brien and is very thankful for the opportunities that he is getting from Joseph as well. With the flat turf season finishing on Sunday November 5^th at the Curragh Racecourse, Hassett will still be riding out throughout the winter mornings in Joseph O’ Brien and Martin Hassett’s yard, and will be also riding at Irelands first and only all weather track in Dundalk throughout the winter months, where he is only going to gain more experience, and hopefully some more winners along the way too. 

Having being watching Wayne Hassett for some time now, and having interviewed him as well, Wayne has a bright future ahead of him in the saddle, with the guidance, knowledge and racing brain of Joseph O’ Brien, and his family who are steeped in horseracing too. Wayne Hassett is a jockey to keep an eye on in the seasons to come.