John Quinn has identified the Breeders' Cup as the long-term target for Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) after his stable star finished placed in both Group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot last week.
But first, Highfield Princess could take in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket, with Quinn reporting last year's triple Group 1-winning sprinter to have bounced out of Ascot in rude health.
The six-year-old was beaten a length when runner-up to Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in the King's Stand last Tuesday and was narrowly denied again when third to Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
He said, “We're as pleased as we could be. We'd like to have won one of them, but anyway, there we are. She has come out of Saturday's race really well, which is the important thing. She's a great mare.”
The North Yorkshire trainer added that Highfield Princess is likely to chart a similar path to last season, which included victories in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, Nunthorpe at York and Flying Five at the Curragh, before she finished a close-up fourth to Caravel (Mizzen Mast) in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
He said, “She is in the July Cup in three weeks' time and we'll consider that, but if we don't, we'll just wait for a little bit.
“I do think she's a Breeders' Cup horse. We'll go down the same route. All being well, we'll run her in the Coolmore Nunthorpe, the Flying Five and see how we go. The July Cup is a question mark, though possibly Goodwood for her, possibly. That would give her a nice break.”
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