Hayes Credited With Panama Win Andy Oliver was pleasantly surprised to see Panama Hat come from first to last to win the Lenebane Stakes at Roscommon. Prolific in handicaps last season, last Monday he won his first stakes race under an inspired ride from Chris Hayes. Having been fitted with blinkers for the first time after disappointing in the Curragh Cup, Panama Hat looked uninterested in the early stages, with Hayes having to roust him along. Once into the home straight, he consented to race and flashed home to win going away by a length. "It was pleasing to see him win, and all credit must go to Chris Hayes, but it was a bemusing performance," said Oliver. "It proved he has retained all his ability and also proved he belongs in stakes races, but I didn't expect him to win like that. "His last run left us puzzled, which is why we went for the blinkers, but I'm not sure they worked. "He was entitled to win but, like a lot of horses who win plenty of handicaps and get big ratings, he had to prove he was a stakes horse and he's done that now. "He's got one entry over 10 furlongs in the Group Three Ballyroan (Leopardstown, August 6), but we'll have a discussion and make a plan."
