Doubts around Highfield Princess The ‘Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) bid whirled around John Quinn’s head all the way to the end. During the race, they disappear within seconds.
The mare notably only landed her first group 1 in France during the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville two Sundays ago. Just 12 days later, and 30 miles closer to home from Quinn’s Malton yard, she doubled her pinnacle tests in stunning style on August 19 at York Racecourse.
She reigns!
Princess Highfield capture #WinAndYouIn Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes and punches their ticket to #BreedersCup!
Congratulations to all the connections!pic.twitter.com/7rxIcfRBJA
– Breeders Cup (@BreedersCup) August 19, 2022
Back at 5-1 before closing in after an early assist on Friday morning, she reeled from the longtime leader, the dirty juvenile Platinum Queen at the pole long and scorched clear to win the two and a half lengths, while last year’s second Emaraaty Ana hit the frame again in the third position.
Less than two years ago, Highfield Princess won her first race, with a 7-point handicap 6th in Ayr, with a low score of: 58. Now that’s a huge number higher. 54lb, she bills herself as the sprint queen not only of the north, but also of England, but of Europe at her local track which she loves the most.
It took just over 57 seconds for Quinn’s star horse and owner John Fairley to successfully show off to Nunthorpe. Days at the top were anything but for the trainer, whose decision between head and heart tore him apart until pressing the claim button on Wednesday morning.
She earned her place forever in the hearts of those connected, which delighted Quinn, who later ditched her race show because of distrust of what she had just done. .
“Wow. What a mare. She’s unbelievable,” he said. “I wasn’t sold when I got here, but she did it very well. Like every coach and all the great staff on the pitch, you keep looking and looking and looking back and hoping that she can tell you she’s ready she has some constitution, right?
“Apart from my family, she’s everything to me and it’s not that I’m trying to be smart, she really is everything. I love her. You dream about it, you dream about it. she.
“She has to step up again to do this even from what she’s achieved at Deauville. It’s extraordinary that she’s done it.”
The 5-year-old’s victory was a second consecutive 1st place success equally quickly for track runner Jason Hart. Their unlikely journey together also earned them Royal Ascot glory last year, as well as victory at the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (G2) on Knavesmire earlier this season.
He’s finally named that elusive British top-level winner, and although Hart may be Scottish-born, he admits he’s now an adopted Yorkshireman, which has make his success all the more special.
Keeneland in early November at the Breeders ‘Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) or even the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
Highfield Princess’s victory in the Nunthorpe tournament secured her a spot at the $1 million Turf Sprint 5 1/2 as the race was part of the “Win and You’re In” series by Breeders’ Cup.
Quinn, Hart and Fairley — former Channel 4 Racing supremo — are keen to soak up and enjoy the epic celebrations at their local race track, and the one their beloved Princess Highfield made for her own. me.
“Here in York, she loves this place. It’s great to have a horse like this. I told Mr. Fairley she won’t win a girl, so categorize her and I thought she wouldn’t make it into the 5th tier company, but we’re there!” Quinn said.
“She’s improved year after year and it’s been a pleasure to train. The last game is always the Breeder’s Cup because she has a lot of tactical speed. Five and a half years stretched around two bends are right up her alley.
“We’ve been working since then and we wanted to win the ‘Win and You’re In’ contest like it is today. She certainly got paid for the journey. I’ll run her. it again earlier on the day of the Arc during the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) or the Prix de la Foret (G1) —probably in Abbaye.
“This means a lot to me, especially since all my family is here. Mr. Fairley told me he’d never had a horse like this and I agreed. She really didn’t. believable.”
