High-flying Newmarket trainer seeking Saudi riches with 31lb improver

Up-and-coming Newmarket trainer Alice Haynes is planning to have her first runner in Dubai as well as possibly Saudi Arabia this winter, just a little under a year after she took out her licence.

Haynes, who trains at the foot of the Warren Hill training grounds at Cadland Cottage Stables, is initially targeting two races at the Dubai Carnival with her progressive juvenile Mr Professor, who landed a first black-type win for the stable in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract last month.

Since joining Haynes in the summer, the Amo Racing-owned youngster has won three of his five starts during which time his official BHA rating has risen 31lb to 100.

Following his win at Pontefract, when he overcame the odds-on Westover in determined fashion, Mr Professor then failed to make his reserve price at last month's Tattersalls Horses in Training sale and has returned to Haynes.

Mr Professor: has already put Cadland Cottage Stables on the map

Haynes said: "Mr Professor is in good shape and the plan is to take him out to Dubai in the coming weeks. He should be suited by the turning track at Meydan. There is a mile handicap on turf for three-year-olds in mid-January which should suit him, and then we might try him on dirt in a similar race later that month."

Former jockey Haynes only set out to have ten winners in her first year, but already has 17 on the board.

She added: "If Mr Professor takes to the dirt we could have a look at something like the Saudi Derby in February, which is run at another track that would suit him. It's all very exciting."

Despite its title, the Saudi Derby is staged over a mile and is worth $1.5 million. The first two runnings have gone the way of the Japanese, although the British-trained Mishriff was runner-up in 2020.

Whatever happens in the Middle East, Haynes has the backing of Amo Racing for 2022 having already been sent two yearlings.

She said: "It's great to have two in for Amo. They are colts by Kodi Bear and Kesaar and they have already been broken in and ridden away. They look sharp sorts and will hopefully prove early types."

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