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July Cup Could Be Next For Highfield Princess – But Breeders’ Cup Long-Term Target

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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Dettori Extends Farewell Tour To Ride In Melbourne Cup

Frankie Dettori has committed to riding in this year's Melbourne Cup and will bid to win the race for the first time on November 7.

The 52-year-old enjoyed a dream final week at Royal Ascot when riding Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to Gold Cup glory and partnering a further three winners at the meeting.

Dettori was set to retire after the Breeders' Cup meeting at Santa Anita but the opportunity to ride a first Melbourne Cup winner at Flemington is understood to have enticed the legendary jockey into extending his farewell tour.

He said, “I have achieved all there is to achieve in horse racing and have had a fantastic career, but the Lexus Melbourne Cup has always been one race that I would love to win.

“I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne to ride at the carnival for one final time and hopefully I can finish my career with a Melbourne Cup win.”

Dettori has ridden in 17 Melbourne Cups and been runner-up twice aboard Central Park (Ire) and Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}).

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Plans Outlined for Shadwell Runners

After missing the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot due to fast ground, Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is expected to make his next start in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. July 29. Victorious at the Royal meeting last season in the G1 Coronation Cup, the 6-year-old returned after almost a year on the sidelines following a hind leg fracture to defeat Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in May 25 G3 Brigadier Gerard S.

“Hukum will run if and when we get some rain,” confirmed Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold. “It was a touch and go situation Saturday. We were longing to run him, but [trainer] Owen [Burrows] just felt in the end that, while we could run him and he could win it, he might come back a bit sore after it and we'd all look silly.”

He continued, “We kept him in training and spent a lot of time getting him right again after his injury last year and he just felt it was too big a risk. It is frustrating but sensible.

“Very much the idea is the King George. If the ground was good or even if it was good to firm, we might have to take a chance. That's the big day. We will see how we are going nearer the time.”

Gold also confirmed that G1 Prince of Wales's victor Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will miss next week's G1 Coral-Eclipse S., a race that has been earmarked for G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}).

“Mostahdaf has come out of it very good, said Gold. “I spoke to [trainer] John Gosden [Saturday] and he says he is bouncing.”

“The Eclipse is off the cards for Mostahdaf. We still have Anmaat in, ground permitting. If he's in good form and conditions look suitable, hopefully, we will go there with him.”

“I think we will be sitting still with Mostahdaf and, hopefully, get him to York in the same form in August.”

Listed winner Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who finished sixth after being supplemented to Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S., will also be given some time off, according to Gold.

“We'll give her a break now and get her back in the autumn,” he said. “I still think she will be a very nice filly. We haven't even discussed targets. We will give her some gentle downtime, three weeks or so, then bring her back and take it from there.”

Dual Group 2 winner Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will also be given a freshener following an eleventh in the GI Queen Anne S. Tuesday. Victorious in the G2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket May 5, the 5-year-old came home fifth in Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. May 20.

“We'll see what there is for him, but we will just give him a bit of time now,” he explained. “He's had three runs relatively quickly, but he's the sort of horse who could easily come out and win another Group 2 later in the year.”

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Haras de Beaumont Buys Into Classic Hero Ace Impact

The Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}), who is currently the top-rated three-year-old in Europe, is to continue his racing career for a partnership which consists of his original owner Serge Stempniak and the Chehboub family. Upon his eventual retirement, he will stand at the Chehboub-owned Haras de Beaumont, close to Deauville.

Unbeaten in four starts to date, Ace Impact set a new race record in winning his Classic for Stempniak and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. From the first crop of Cracksman, who was one of the earliest stars for his sire Frankel (GB), he was bred by Waltraut Spanner. Unsurprisingly, there has been interest in the exciting young colt from stallion farms around Europe.

“I was very keen for Ace Impact to remain in France for his future stallion career,” said Stempniak. ” It was also very important for me to engage in a French partnership. I had a lot of offers from abroad. However, I thought that this was a shame because the horse certainly has a great career ahead of him in the breeding shed in France. I'm very happy to enter into a partnership with the Chehboub family whom I met a short while ago. We hit it off straight away. They are people with great human values. I have retained a 50 per cent stake in Ace Impact, and the terms of our agreement stipulate that the horse will carry the colours of both concerns on an alternate race basis. My last condition was that Ace Impact's Arc bid should be in my colours.”

Pauline Chehboub owns Haras de Beaumont with her father Kamel, traditionally racing their horses under the banner of La Gousserie. The stud, which is on part of the land formerly used by the historic Haras du Quesnay, was officially launched in December and is already home to the stallions Sealiway (Fr), who covered 160 mares in his first season this spring, and Intello (Ger), who was sent 130 mares.

She said, “Ace Impact is the best Classic winner of his generation in Europe, and his rating ranks him among the top five horses in the world. Ace Impact represents an exceptional opportunity for French breeders. We're really of the same mindset as Serge Stempniak, as letting him go abroad would have been a huge loss. He's also a very attractive type. With the help of Mathieu Alex, who is a key lynchpin in the success of Haras de Beaumont, we are fortunate to have enjoyed a successful first breeding season.”

Jean-Claude Rouget signed for Ace Impact as a yearling at Arqana for €75,000. He has indicated that his ultimate aim this season is the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with the colt likely to be seen next in Deauville in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. After that, Ace Impact could head either to Longchamp for the G2 Prix Niel, or to Leopardstown to contest the G1 Irish Champion S.

The trainer said, “This is a very good indicator for French racing and breeding. Kamel Chehboub has made a major statement by purchasing a 50 per cent stake in Ace Impact, and with the aim of standing him as a stallion at his Normandy stud when his racing career ends. Serge Stempniak, having acquired the colt as a yearling at the Deauville sales, will retain 50 per cent in the colt, at least until the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which we hope to run.”

Haras de Beaumont manager Mathieu Alex, who played a key role in the stallion career of another Prix du Jockey Club winner, Le Havre (Ire), added, “The stallion business is extremely competitive, so securing a high-class horse like Ace Impact is fantastic news for Haras de Beaumont and for France. Unbeaten, Ace Impact is the fastest Prix du Jockey Club winner and his rating of 123 makes him the best three-year-old in the world today. He's got a great mind and his turn of foot is exceptional. In the care of one of the best European trainers, Jean-Claude Rouget, his future is exciting.”

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