From Melbourne Cups and Cox Plates to driving around the desert in a converted Mercedes-Benz practising falconry together, the Hayes family enjoyed a long and successful partnership with the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The family’s Lindsay Park operation churned out 88 Stakes winners in Hamdan’s famous blue and white silks, including 20 Group Ones over a 37-year odyssey.

Hamdan, who died aged 75 on Wednesday morning, tasted Melbourne Cup success with At Talaq in 1986 and Jeune in 1994 before winning a Cox Plate in 1989 with Almaarad along with Caulfield Cup victories in 1993 (Fraar) and 2006 (Tawqeet).

“He was with the stable for 35 years, from At Talaq right through until recently,” David Hayes said.

“To have an owner that has only had his horses with Lindsay Park [means a lot], we won a Cox Plate, two Caulfield Cups, Melbourne Cups, five Blue Diamonds and a gazillion stakes races.

“He was a lovely gentleman who always put the horse first, his main thing was the horse and he was a true horse lover.

“You think, he has been champion owner in England as many times as he has, he is just a huge loss to the industry.

“He came to Australia once and that was to the Melbourne Cup the year after he won it [in 1986], we won a race for him on that day which was really important to him with a horse called Alshandegha, who won the two-year-old race.”

Hamdan’s sporting interests were not limited to horses, according to Hayes.

“My memories are when we [tried our hand at falconry] in Dubai,” he said. “That involved going out in a converted Mercedes out into the desert, putting the falcon on your arm and then hunting whatever birds there were.

“He loved hunting, he would go to Pakistan hunting all the time and he would train his birds in Dubai. He had as big a falcon business as he did horse business and his camels were just as big so he was a true sportsman.”

Hayes’ last Group One success with Hamdan came in the South Australian Derby in 2019 with Qafila.

Dual Group One winner Shadow Hero begins trek to Hong Kong Derby

Meanwhile, the Australian handler is also dealing with the loss of his top-rated horse Shadow Hero, who has been retired from Hong Kong.

The four-year-old struggled through Sunday’s Derby, finishing nine lengths off Sky Darci in 12th, causing owner Edmond Lee Man-bun to make the decision to send the 100 rater back to his former trainer Mark Newnham in Sydney.

“It was the owner’s call [to go back to Australia], he pulled up very sore after the Derby and needed a spell,” Hayes said.

“The owner decided he would have him back in Australia, so he is heading back to Mark Newnham. He is going to replace him here with another one he has, so he is thinking of changing them because his dream is to win the Derby of course.”

“With a spell, I am sure he would have been a very good Class One horse here -he hadn’t quite acclimatised here yet.”

Hayes will saddle up five horses at Sha Tin on Sunday including the improving Donc Je Suis, who lines up in the Class Four Wong Ma Tei Handicap (2,000m).

“He is quite a nice horse and he has Zac [Purton] on,” he said. “He ran a nice third at Happy Valley last time and I think he is a better horse at Sha Tin.”

He also has last-start winner So We Joy along with Metro Warrior, Happy Jai Jai and Alee King Prawn on the day.