Despite having all of Newmarket's expansive training grounds right on her doorstep, as we speak Haynes is on her way back from Chelmsford City Racecourse where she has taken seven two-year-olds for an away day a week ahead of the start of the Flat turf season in Britain. 

“We take them away as often as we can. We'll take some three-year-olds there in two weeks' time, and then there'll be another bunch of two-year-olds, which will go in April,” she explains. “Today wasn't a barrier trial day but we did come here a few weeks ago for that. But just unloading and getting in the lorry, experiencing all of that, can put a few manners on them before they have to go to the races.”

No stone unturned, then, and this may well go some way to explaining the success of Haynes, now 32, who spent her formative years in racing as an amateur and apprentice, working for Mick Channon, Henrietta Knight and David Simcock before setting up her own pre-training business for a while. 

“We're a week away now from the start and all systems are go,” says the trainer, who hasn't exactly been idle through the winter. She already has 13 winners on the board in 2024  and is looking forward to the enhanced early juvenile programme. 

“Every year, you are learning what kind of horse you want to target for different places. You then work back from there, and that's the exciting part of it. I think this year we'll have our first Brocklesby runner. And we'll have Maysong for the consolation handicap that he ran so well in last year.”

The four-time winner Maysong (GB) (Mayson {GB}), who holds an entry for the Lincoln, was beaten less than a length when third in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on the opening day last year.  He joined Haynes as a four-year-old and runs often, with 15 of his 65 starts coming in 2023, but he is a consistent sort who rose to a high of 83 last year and he has 26 placed efforts to go with his victories. 

“I think horses that we've got from other people we've done quite well with and I'd like to say we have a few nice handicappers,” says Haynes, who has entered last season's Newcastle maiden winner Sir Gabrial (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the 2,000 Guineas. 

“Obviously he's only rated 75 now, but he's a horse that will definitely be on the up in a couple of handicaps, or hopefully going there,” she says. “But I very much enjoy two-year-olds. Obviously I started life at Mick Channon's and it's something that I just sort of picked up. This year is the first year there are 17 two-year-old races before the Craven, which is unreal.

“I'm not quite sure why they've been so extreme with early two-year-old races, but it's nice to get a couple out early. I always try to have a two-year-old winner before the Craven Breeze-up [Sale] – you try and put your name out there a little bit – and we have done that for the last two years.”

A key member of Haynes's growing team at home is Kieran O'Neill, who is both her stable jockey and partner. 

“He's very dedicated,” says Haynes. “He likes the involvement, not just the riding of the horses, but of picking where they're going to go next. And I think he's a big asset because he does know those horses at home. Of course, owners sometimes like to use their own jockeys, which is fine and he understands that. But I like to think that he does well with me and with horses and the rides that he's given.”

She continues, “He works hard and that's the biggest thing. He doesn't expect anything to be given to him. He's not afraid to be up on Sundays or riding four or five lots out each day. Or for instance, riding out this morning, going to Chelmsford and then going off to Wolverhampton.”

O'Neill was rewarded with a winner that evening at Wolverhampton aboard Tasmanian Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}), a horse who has thrived at the Haynes stable, winning three of his four starts since being purchased at the Horses-in-Training Sale last October.

“Obviously now we want the better type of winners in black-type races or on the bigger days. And that's where you have to stand on your own and prove yourself – the horses running didn't cost 200 grand as a yearling, however it still should be here in this race. And with those horses you won't really get acknowledged in those kind of races,” she says.

Haynes has trained a stakes winner in each of her seasons with a licence to date. Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) got the ball rolling by winning the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Silver Tankard S. at 16/1 in her debut season. Lady Hollywood (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) won a Listed race in Ireland and Group 3 in France in 2022, while Fix You (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) won last year's Polonia S. in Ireland. All three horses belonged to Amo Racing, run by Kia Joorabchian, who no longer has horses with Haynes. 

“I thank him for the support,” she says. “We had nine winners together last year.”

The absence of the Amo silks is unlikely to halt the trainer's ascent, however. Her yard is now sponsored by the bookmaker Coral, and with 70 in training she has her biggest string to date as the 2024 season gets underway.

“We're growing all the time and it's a nice number, but we've still got the attention to detail. There's a good team behind me and working alongside me. And you're not so focused then on one horse being good and putting all that pressure on one horse – you might have a couple instead. I still ride out. I actually rode one round Chelmsford this morning and I really enjoy it,” she says. 

“Simon Clare [of Coral] sent us a horse last year, Aspire to Glory, who has won three, and it's great to have them on board. It started with them sponsoring Kieran, then I approached Simon and said, 'Are you looking for anyone else?' It's great to have a sponsor. He said he was thinking about it so I put my name in the hat.”

Haynes is looking forward to the prospect of unleashing at least one juvenile in this Saturday's Brocklesby S. at Doncaster. She has two entries for the race – Solvency (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) and Atherstone Warrior (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}). Now included in the High-Value Development Race Series, the season's traditional curtain-raiser for two-year-olds, which is sponsored by British Stallion Studs (EBF), is now worth £40,000, as is the first two-year-old race at Chelmsford – a course now familiar to Haynes's youngsters – which is to be run on Good Friday (March 29).

“I have an Ardad colt called Solvency and hopefully he will run in the Brocklesby. Obviously Ardad went a bit quiet last year because he would've had fewer numbers, but this year I've got two of them and I think he's really going to come back with a bang. They're for new owners, which is great. They've actually bought parts of different horses and they've bought this one on their own. I sourced him for them, he's a nice size, and it's exciting to have him.

“There's a Far Above (GB) filly that is probably going to run at Chelmsford. That's a 40-grand maiden and I think it's a great incentive. Chelmsford missed out on having its Good Friday meeting last year but there's really good prize-money on offer there this year and that's what you need.”

It's not just about the two-year-olds, of course. Haynes also admits to a soft spot for older sprinters and she has bought back the six-year-old Mashaan (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who won twice for her stable in 2022 before being sold on. 

“He'd come down in the weights, and when you bond with a horse…I'm learning that in a three-year-old career, they do get a little bit lost, the sprinters, and then all of a sudden they're back as four- or five-year-olds,” she says. “We also have Live In The Moment (Ire), the half-brother to [Nunthorpe winner] Live In The Dream (Ire), and he lost his way for a couple of years after going to Dubai. It's nice to see the revival of the older horses,” she says.

“But basically, you've got to win with what you've got and that's very much what I try to do. Whether it's a 0-50, 0-60 [handicap], you still try and get the best out of them and then you can move them on and fill the box with something else.

“That's why we are not afraid to run them. We run plenty of horses, I prefer to run them than to keep galloping them at home.”

The post ‘All Systems Are Go’: Haynes Aiming Enhanced Team at Brocklesby and Beyond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Much of the hype surrounding the colt stemmed from a scintillating 12-length victory on debut at Ripon. It was on the strength of that performance that Asadna was sent off just 7-2 for the Coventry but he failed to land a glove on River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and was beaten six lengths at the winning line. 

Haynes commented, “I'm very fortunate, it's lovely to be sent a horse who looks to have so much potential. It's great to get the call up. Obviously it's not too nice for George and trainers do like to stick together, but he was going to another yard and it's great for the team that he is joining us.”

She added, “It's a bit too early to say what we might do, we'll just let him settle in at the yard and see from there.”

Haynes also confirmed the transfer of Danger Alert (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) from Boughey's yard, with the three-year-old having been withdrawn from the Palace of Holyroodhouse S. on veterinary advice at Ascot on Friday.

The three-times winner may not be in Haynes' care too long though as he is entered at Tattersalls sales next month.

She added, “We also have Danger Alert who is entered in the July sale but will run before.”

The post Big-Name Transfer: Asadna Switched From George Boughey To Alice Haynes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

This was the second black-type win for the chestnut, who had beaten the leading Irish sprint fillies Mauiewowie (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Treasure Trove (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the Listed Marwell S. at Naas July 20 having won at Lingfield June 25 and at Beverley July 12. She also provides Whitsbury Manor Stud's first-season sire sensation with a breakthrough first group win as he continues to pour it on in the race for the bragging rights among the newblood sires.

The winner is the last known foal out of a relative of Momalorka (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who was the Filly Triple Crown winner in Qatar and finished third in the G3 Firth of Clyde S. The family also features the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.-winning sire Where Or When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX D'ARENBERG-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-1, 2yo, 5fT, :55.81, g/s.
1–LADY HOLLYWOOD (GB), 122, f, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
     1st Dam: Dubai Legend (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
     2nd Dam: Royal Future (Ire), by Royal Academy
     3rd Dam: Future Past, by Super Concorde
1ST GROUP WIN. (11,000gns RNA Wlg '20 TATFOA; €25,000 Ylg '21 GOFSPT; 58,000gns RNA 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing & Omnihorse Racing; B-D & S L Tanker Transport Ltd (GB); T-Alice Haynes; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 7-4-1-0, €80,336. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Vicious Harry (Fr), 126, c, 2, Harry Angel (Ire)–Umneeyatee (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). (€28,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT). O-Cuadra Mediterraneo; B-Medya SARL & Tarik Tekce (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €16,000.
3–Kerindia (Ire), 122, f, 2, Cotai Glory (GB)–Coursing (GB), by Kyllachy (GB). (£24,000 Ylg '21 TATIRY; 65,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Peter Trainor; B-Rossenarra Stud (IRE); T-Michael Bell. €12,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HD. Odds: 3.90, 6.10, 4.70.
Also Ran: Exxtra (Fr), Optimal (Ire), Sivana (Fr), Rocket Rodney (GB), Ocean Vision (Ire), Goeva (Fr), Kokachin (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

The post Havana Grey’s Lady Hollywood In Charge At ParisLongchamp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

1st-Musselburgh, £8,000, Mdn, 8-24, 2yo, 7f 33yT, 1:33.50, gd.
HARRY'S HERO (GB) (c, 2, Hawkbill–Flora Medici {GB}, by Sir Percy {GB}), an Aug. 4 debut third going a shade over six furlongs at Great Yarmouth last time, was well away from an outer gate to chase the leaders in fifth and was left in third after two rivals failed to negotiate the home turn. Sent to the front with three furlongs remaining, the 6-1 chance was urged ever clear inside the final quarter mile before gearing down late to easily outpoint Devil's Kingdom (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Kitten's Joy). Harry's Hero is the latest of three foals and second scorer produced by a multiple-winning daughter of Florentia (GB) (Medicean {GB}), herself a multiple-winning  half-sister to Listed Preis des Casino Baden-Baden third Clarion (GB) (First Trump {GB}). Clarion is a multiple champion in Austria and the Slovak Republic and hails from a family featuring G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Seazun (Ire) (Zieten) and G1 Champion S. runner-up and multiple Group-winning sire Insatiable (Ire) (Don't Forget Me {Ire}). Sales history: 2,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 12,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $4,727.
O-Refai Alghuraban; B-W N Greig (GB); T-Alice Haynes.

Nice performance

12,000gns buy Harry's Hero (Hawkbill) sheds the maiden tag at the second time of asking in smooth fashion for @ahaynesracing & @shanefifigray @MusselburghRace pic.twitter.com/cvke755TMX

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 24, 2022

The post Freshman Sire Hawkbill Off The Mark At Musselburgh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

British success in the Listed Marwell Stakes as Lady Hollywood completes the hat-trick with a fine effort for @ahaynesracing, @Rossaryan15 & @amoracingltd at @naasracecourse pic.twitter.com/pTNGw9JLJZ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 20, 2022

Haynes said of the winner, who had easily beat Thursday's maiden winner Mrs U S A (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) at Lingfield June 25 and at Beverley July 12, “Our only concern coming here today was whether this race was a bit too soon from Beverley but the form was franked when the horse that she beat twice just went and won before this race. She has a great brain and is so straightforward to train. She showed a lot of speed here and it appears that she is getting quicker and quicker. We can probably set our sights a bit higher now. Rossa just said about sending her to America for the Breeders' Cup, but we'll go back to the drawing board and speak to the owner before making a plan.”

The winner is the last known foal out of a relative of Momalorka (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who was third in the G3 Firth of Clyde S., and of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.-winning sire Where Or When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

ARQANA IRISH EBF MARWELL S.-Listed, €48,000, Naas, 7-20, 2yo, f, 5fT, :59.81, gd.
1–LADY HOLLYWOOD (GB), 128, f, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
     1st Dam: Dubai Legend (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
     2nd Dam: Royal Future (Ire), by Royal Academy
     3rd Dam: Future Past, by Super Concorde
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (11,000gns RNA Wlg '20 TATFOA; €25,000 Ylg '21 GOFSPT; 58,000gns RNA 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing and Omnihorse Racing; B-D & S L Tanker Transport Ltd (GB); T-Alice Haynes; J-Rossa Ryan. €28,800. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $41,728.
2–Mauiewowie (GB), 128, f, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–La Chapelle (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. (52,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 155,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Eleanora Kennedy; B-Trebles Holford Farm Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €9,600.
3–Treasure Trove (Ire), 128, f, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Pichola Dance (Ire), by Distorted Humor. O/B-Merry Fox Stud Limited (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. €4,800.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, 2. Odds: 3.30, 0.83, 5.50.
Also Ran: Lady Tilbury (GB), Escaping Thejungle (Ire), Ardad's Great (GB), Charming Lady (Ire). Scratched: Funny Money Honey (Ire), Profitable Edge (Ire).

The post First Black Type Winner For Havana Grey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

2nd-Doncaster, £7,800, Mdn, 4-30, 2yo, 5f 3yT, 1:01.51, g/f.
LADY BULLET (IRE) (f, 2, James Garfield {Ire}–Lil's Joy {Ire} {GSP-Fr}, by Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) Sales history: £17,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK; 48,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,297. O-The Three Bullets; B-Rathbarry Stud (IRE); T-Alice Haynes.

The post James Garfield Off The Mark At Doncaster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

First season or proven: Proven.

Speed or stamina: Speed that stretches; most occasions call for a bit of both.

Cold beer or vintage Claret: Claret.

Newspaper or podcast: I'm easy, so long as it's daily.

Royal Ascot or Breeeders' Cup: Breeders' Cup.

Rock or classical: Classical.

Bright young thing to follow: Alice Haynes (trainer) and Jonathan Harding (journalist).

Wise owl to look up to: Too many to mention–Rob Hyland in television, Graham Motion epitomises playing the game the right way, while I'll never stop learning from James Willoughby.

The post The Back Nine With Nick Luck appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

On Saturday morning she arrived back in the UK from Dubai having overseen her first two runners there. By Friday she will be back at Meydan to saddle Freyabella (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) again. In between that, Haynes has been riding out five or six lots a day on a cold and frosty Newmarket Heath at the head of a string which has risen in numbers on the back of a hugely encouraging start to her training career.

This time last year, the 30-year-old had not even sent out her first runner, but when she did, in late February, her aim was to try to get 10 wins on the board for the year. Come the end of December, she had notched exactly double that number. She already has three to her credit in this new year, all courtesy of the same horse, the sprinter Strong Power, who has notched a hat-trick and a second placing since New Year's Day. Plainly, Haynes is not afraid to run her horses when she feels they are ready for it.

“A lot of people look at the stats, so you are only really as good as your last runner, but I'm not afraid to run them,” says Haynes as she takes a short break between lots at her Cadland Cottage Stables, handily situated at the foot of Warren Hill. “I prefer to run them and get them on the track rather than give them one or two more gallops, that way you can really see what you've got. You can get excited about a piece of work but we all know there are plenty of morning glories who don't then do it on the racecourse.”

In these early days of her own career, the trainer has offered no such disappointment. Only three weeks after sending out her first runner she was in the winner's enclosure with Act Of Magic (Ire) (Magician {Ire}) at Wolverhampton, where Haynes had ridden her first of nine winners a decade earlier.

Since working for David Simcock and riding as an amateur when she first arrived in Newmarket after stints with National Hunt trainer Henrietta Knight then Mick Channon, Haynes ran her own pre-training business for a time. In that line of work in Newmarket she would rarely have been short on occupants, with many of the town's big trainers having large numbers in local pre-training facilities before they come into formal training. By last winter, however, Haynes had set her mind on preparing her own horses rather than doing so for other trainers.

“That was the creme de la creme and now I'm looking at it from a different view,” she says of the switch from breaking in yearlings by the likes of Dubawi (Ire) and Kingman (GB) to training more modestly sourced stock.

“But if you look at an owner like Nick Bradley, he tends to buy quantity over quality but he has found some superstars that way. Some people might go and buy five really well-bred horses but I think I would like to meet in the middle somewhere and not spend so much. Pedigree obviously counts for a lot, but at the same time it's the model of horse and what you do with it, and we've all seen those less expensive horses come out and win big races. That's the fairytale.”

Haynes has certainly made the most of the horses she has either bought inexpensively herself or been sent by owners who have noticed her early results. The aforementioned Nick Bradley is one of them, and Haynes is set to run Unique Cut (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for his syndicate at Lingfield on Saturday during the inaugural cross-code Winter Million meeting. Also on her list is the increasingly prolific Amo Racing, owner of the horse who so far holds the title of stable star, Mr Professor.

The first-crop son of Profitable won three races for Haynes last year, culminating in her first stakes success in the Listed Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract. He is now flying the flag for her yard overseas, and ran a promising third in last week's Jumeirah Classic Trial at Meydan. He steps up by two furlongs to return a week later in Friday's Derby Trial.

“He ran so well last week considering that it was his minimum trip over seven furlongs and he just lacks that extra half a gear but it was good to see that Rossa [Ryan] couldn't pull him up until he was over the far side and he has been bouncing ever since. He loves his racing and he takes it well,” says Haynes. “The owner said 'How are we going to beat Godolphin?' But the step up in trip will help us and if they don't turn up one day it's ours for the taking, and he still picked up prize-money for finishing third.”

Haynes is missing being able to ride 'Mr P' on a daily basis as she is used to doing, but she has her old friend and former Simcock colleague Laura Pike overseeing her horses in Dubai as she flits between there and home.

“I was there for their first day on the track and then stayed for their first races on the Friday, but obviously I have the 2-year-olds to get going here and Laura is there doing a great job for me so I don't need to be there all the time,” she adds.

Mr Professor was the first horse Haynes was sent by Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing and she now has three juveniles to train for him, including a colt from the first crop of Kessaar (Ire), whose stock can be expected to be on the early side.

“We currently have 13 2-year-olds in, some very precocious ones and some which will need a little more time,” she says. “I've been lucky in that in the first year I was spending £5,000 to £10,000 myself on yearlings, but now some owners have come in and we've been able to buy four of five which cost £30,000, so it's taking a little step up the ladder and buying something with a bit more of a page.”

Very much a hands-on trainer, Haynes can be seen on a daily basis amidst her string, which also includes jockey Kieran O'Neill, who is in the stable every day.

“I love riding out because you learn so much more about the horses,” says Haynes, who rode to a decent level in eventing before turning to racing full time. “It's not just about them cantering past you, but it's more about how they behave the rest of the time, and that helps when you are then trying to get them to the track–whether it's a horse going to post first or last, or wearing a hood. It's the tiny things that make a difference.”

The more classical style of riding which she learned before coming into racing is clearly put to good use, as she adds, “Every horse gets treated on its own merits but a horse needs to be able canter on the right leg even as a yearling if you're going left-handed, or to register what leg he needs to be on to go round a bend, or even just carry himself properly when trotting. After a horse has had a break he will be in a bungee for a while just to make sure he's using himself properly and to build that top line. At the end of the day the strongest horses are the ones producing the best results.”

Haynes is already looking ahead to European targets for Mr Professor when he eventually returns from Dubai, and has the all-weather finals day or an Italian Group 3 pencilled in as his spring engagements.

“There are some decent options for him early on in the season, so he can kick on off the plane and keep going,” she says. “To have something on the international stage at this time has been great. I wouldn't be afraid to go to places, especially if you are trying to get black type for fillies. I'd love to try to attack France, Ireland, Germany, Italy next season.”

Such ambitions, along with the results, will increasingly turn the spotlight on the young trainer. Her composed and lengthy interview on last week's Luck On Sunday appeared to show someone at ease with this situation but Haynes says, “I'm quite a level-headed person and I don't really like the attention on me. I just like to get on with it and do my job. I've set the bar relatively high and I have to keep increasing it. It's such a competitive sport and you are only as good as your last runner.”

As all trainers know, horses can disappoint as much as they delight, but Haynes's promising first year with a licence has already proved that she is a more-than-competent horsewoman, and better still one for whom hard work is second nature.

The post Hard-Working Haynes Building On Strong Start appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post