Harayir (22 March 1992 – 2014) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from June 1994 to October 1995 she ran thirteen times and won six races. As a two-year-old she won two races, including the Group Two Lowther Stakes at York. The following spring, Harayir became the first horse to win a Classic on a Sunday, when she was victorious in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse after being rejected by her regular jockey Willie Carson in favour of her owner's other runner Aqaarid. Her success gave her trainer Dick Hern his fourteenth and final classic winner. Later in the year, Harayir competed successfully against colts and older horses, winning the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket. She was retired from racing to become a broodmare.
Background
Harayir was a bay filly with white socks on her hind legs, bred in Kentucky by her owner, Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm. She was sired by Gulch, a son of Mr. Prospector, who was named 1988 American Champion Sprint Horse. Gulch was a successful stallion, siring the multiple Group One winner Nayef and the Japan Cup Dirt winner Eagle Cafe. Harayir's dam, Saffaanh failed to win a race in five attempts, but was a daughter of the Irish Oaks winner Give Thanks. As a granddaughter of the broodmare Violetta, Give Thanks was closely related to The Derby winner Teenoso.
Harayir was trained by the veteran Dick Hern at West Ilsley in Berkshire and was ridden in all but one of her races by Willie Carson.
Racing career
1994: two-year-old season
Harayir made her first racecourse appearance at Newbury Racecourse in June 1994. She started favourite for a six furlong maiden race and won by one and a quarter lengths from Royal Rebuke. At Newmarket's July meeting, Harayir was moved up in class to Group Three level to contest the six furlong Cherry Hinton Stakes. Willie Carson sent the filly into the lead a furlong and a half from the finish but she was caught in the last stride and beaten a short head by Red Carnival. At York in August, Harayir recorded her first major win in the Group Two Lowther Stakes. Starting the 2/1 joint favourite, she took the lead entering the final furlong and drew clear to win by three lengths from Gay Gallanta. The Racing Post described the performance as "impressive", and the filly was made ante-post favourite for the following year's 1000 Guineas. On her final appearance of the year, Harayir started favourite for the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, and finished third to Gay Gallanta and Tanami. Gay Gallanta's performance was enough to see her named European champion two-year-old filly.
1995: three-year-old season
Harayir's three-year-old debut saw her matched against colts as she carried top weight of 133 pounds in the European Free Handicap in April. She led briefly in the final furlong before finishing second to Diffident, a French-trained colt carrying 131. In his capacity as jockey for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Willie Carson had a choice of rides for the 1995 1000 Guineas. After being thought likely to partner Harayir he changed his mind and switched to Aqaarid, an unbeaten filly from the John Dunlop stable, leaving the ride on Harayir to Richard Hills: he described the decision as "a difficult choice". Aqaarid started 3/1 favourite for the 1000 Guineas, with Harayir sharing second place in the betting with the Godolphin filly Moonshell on 5/1. The race was the first British Classic to be run on a Sunday. Hills tracked the leaders on Harayir, before sending the filly to the front a furlong from the finish. Aqaarid and Moonshell emerged from the pack to challenge, but Harayir ran on strongly to win by one and a half lengths. Aqaarid beat Moonshell by three quarters of a length for second, with Gay Gallanta four lengths further back in seventh.