Tag: Highfield Princess (Fr)

Night Of Thunder’s Highfield Princess Dominates The Nunthorpe

Placing herself in a different stratosphere of sprinters, John Fairley's Breeders' Cup-bound homebred Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) powered to glory in Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York only a dozen days after her tour de force in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Returning to the scene of her emphatic G2 1895 Duke of York S. success May 11, the 5-1 shot enjoyed an ideal lead throughout the early stages from the three-years-younger The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) before taking the measure of that juvenile a furlong from home. Giving everything for Jason Hart, the John Quinn-trained bay hit the line with 2 1/2 lengths to spare over the long-time leader, with Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) regaining his form 1 1/2 lengths further away in third.

 

“She's definitely getting quicker,” Hart said of the winner, whose win guarantees her an entry into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, with the Nunthorpe part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. “She gave me my first group one winner a couple of weeks ago and it probably means more today to do it on home soil. I was really confident, the two-year-old was giving us a nice tow and I thought I'd be able to pick her up whenever I wanted really. I thought if I could just hold her together for the middle part of the race she'd finish her race off.”

Not only is Highfield Princess the first to complete the Maurice de Gheest-Nunthorpe double, this second career outing over Britain's minimum trip also resulted in her becoming the since Handsome Sailor (GB) in 1988 to follow up a win in the Duke of York here. Her trajectory is one of the year's great racing stories, with a sixth in Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. June 18 her only reversal since a second to the handicapper Tone The Barone (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in a conditions event which was a belated first try at this distance on Wolverhampton's Tapeta Mar. 19.

Harnessing all the indomitable spirit which saw her conquer Royal Ascot's Buckingham Palace H. over seven furlongs last June, the bay who had also captured the Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' S. on Chelmsford's Polytrack early the next month and finished second to Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 City of York S. at this festival 12 months ago has achieved a level of versatility which few can manage. Four runs on from her success over seven in Newcastle's All-Weather Fillies' and Mares' Championships Conditions S. Apr. 15, she was readily handing one of the season's fastest juveniles The Platinum Queen a remarkable 24 pounds advantage en route to subduing a clutch of five-furlong specialists like Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire})–the disappointing 5-2 favourite who was sixth–and Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

John Quinn has his sights set on Keeneland in November, with a trip to ParisLongchamp beforehand. “It took her quite a while to learn her trade,” he said. “We put her in the Foret and the Abbaye, so all being well two more runs in either of those and then the Breeders' Cup. She's got loads of tactical speed and five and a half furlongs around two bends will be right up her alley.”

“When she was starting out, I said to John [Fairley] that she won't win a maiden so we'll get her categorised and go from there. When they gave her 57 I thought 'oh heck, we can't get her in a 0-55!',” Quinn added. “Her progress year in and year out and been astounding. This means everything. It's better than winning the lottery. To win here at York, with all my family here, it's fantastic.” Fairley added, “Her story is one of the most epic stories in the history of thoroughbred racing. To do what she has done in two years is incredible and to win a Nunthorpe by two and a half lengths! Hardly anyone does that. She bit me this morning, that's how I knew she was feeling good, but I didn't think she'd win like that.”

Tim Palin, syndicate manager for Middleham Park Racing, said of The Platinum Queen, “The weight-for-age might be a little bit generous and whether we can come back and replicate that in the future only time will tell, but I think she's going to give us plenty of fun. She's got the Abbaye entry and you wouldn't know whether the ground in Paris will suit her or not. You would have thought that would be the logical place to go.” Kevin Ryan's son and assistant Adam said of Emaraaty Ana, “He's taken his time to recover from running in Dubai earlier in the year, but he was more himself in the July Cup and has come here a fresh horse and has run his race. Hopefully now he can go on to Haydock now and defend his crown in the Sprint Cup.”

Foaled at Haras du Camp Benard in Normandy, Highfield Princess, is out of the 18,000gns Godolphin cast-off Pure Illusion (Ire) (Danehill) whose son Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}) was successful in the G2 July S. and placed in the G1 Middle Park S., G2 Gimcrack S., G2 Richmond S. and G2 Norfolk S. The second dam Saintly Speech (Southern Halo) took the G3 Princess Margaret S. and is also the second dam of the G3 Park Express S. and G3 C. L. Weld Park S. winner Chrysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who in turn produced the G3 Sandown Classic Trial scorer Cunco (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Pure Illusion's 2-year-old colt Highfield Viking (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}) was bought back by Fairley at 40,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 3.

Friday, York, Britain
COOLMORE WOOTTON BASSETT NUNTHORPE S.-G1, £533,750, York, 8-19, 2yo/up, 5fT, :57.18, g/f.
1–HIGHFIELD PRINCESS (FR), 138, m, 5, by Night of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Saintly Speech, by Southern Halo
3rd Dam: Eloquent Minister, by Deputy Minister
(29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn; J-Jason Hart. £302,690. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 29-11-5-5, $1,022,792. *1/2 to Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $355,619. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Platinum Queen (Ire), 114, f, 2, Cotai Glory (GB)–Thrilled (Ire), by Kodiac (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (57,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRG). O-Middleham Park Racing XV; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £114,756.
3–Emaraaty Ana (GB), 141, g, 6, Shamardal–Spirit of Dubai (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Kevin Ryan. £57,432.
Margins: 2HF, 1HF, 1. Odds: 5.00, 4.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Khaadem (Ire), Dragon Symbol (GB), Royal Aclaim (Ire), Lazuli (Ire), Raasel (GB), Acklam Express (Ire), Flotus (Ire), Clarendon House (GB), New York City (Ire), Winter Power (Ire). Scratched: Ainsdale (GB), Ebro River (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Night Of Thunder’s Highfield Princess Takes The Maurice De Gheest

Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Pure Illusion {Ire}, by Danehill) had issued a warning to the sprinting ranks with a dynamic success in the May 11 G2 1895 Duke of York S. and the John Quinn-trained mare followed through at Deauville on Sunday when dominating the 6 1/2-furlong G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest. Sixth but in the mix at the end of Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. in the interim June 18, the 16-1 shot was full of energy early with Jason Hart keen to keep some back taking on the Japanese raider King Hermes (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) on the front end. Asserting despite jinking away from the whip from halfway, the 5-year-old had 3/4 of a length to spare over compatriot Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) at the line, with Garrus (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) a head away in third as the Brits filled the first five places. “She's taken her form to a new level this year,” Hart said.

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Night of Thunder’s Highfield Princess Lights Up York

Unexposed over six furlongs, Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}–Pure Illusion {Ire}, by Danehill) stormed on to the sprinting scene with an emphatic success in Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. Trading strides with the ultimately-disappointing Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) until after halfway, the John Quinn-trained mare who was race-hardened after four outings so far this year put that 11-4 joint-favourite to bed soon after.  Despite drifting left, the 11-2 shot was still able to hand Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}) a 2 3/4-length beating, with the other joint-favourite Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) a further length away in third. “I don't know how the boss does it, but he seems to get horses to progress throughout their careers,” jockey Jason Hart said. “I had her in a lovely rhythm, then at halfway she lit up but when I pressed the button I couldn't believe how well she quickened up.”

Unraced at two, Highfield Princess had well and truly made up for the lost time by the time she entered Royal Ascot's Buckingham Palace H. last June with 14 runs under her belt. Powering to success at 18-1 in that seven-furlong contest, the bay was sent black-type hunting over that trip and responded with a string of solid efforts including a win in the Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' S. on Chelmsford's Polytrack in July and a second to the high-class Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 City of York S. at this venue's Ebor festival in August. Her only two runs at shorter resulted in a sixth in the G1 QPICO British Champions Sprint S. and a second in a five-furlong conditions event on Wolverhampton's Tapeta Mar. 19, after which she had returned to seven to win Newcastle's All-Weather Fillies' and Mares' Championships Conditions S. Apr. 15.

John Quinn, who was en route to the Arqana Sales as the race was playing out, now has his sights set on the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. at the Royal meeting at which she broke through last term. “I think we'll probably wait now until the six-furlong race at Ascot, that's the obvious next race for her,” he said. “What has been really pleasing to see of late is that if anything she's getting quicker, they were never going too quick for her there.”

She may not be re-opposed in the June 18 feature by the second, with Karl Burke saying of the improved Spycatcher, “He is actually in the group two at the Curragh on Sunday week [the Greenlands], but I'd imagine that will come too quick and will be a very hot race. We're not entered at Royal Ascot and I think the ground would be the key to him really with his feet–a bit of juice in the ground is perfect.” Owen Burrows said of Minzaal, “The winner drifted away from him, so he didn't have anything then to take him into the race. He's having a nice blow and I'm sure he'll come forward plenty from that. Like everybody we've been waiting to get some serious work in on the grass, so hopefully the rain will allow for that and we can move forwards to Ascot.”

Highfield Princess, who is named after John Quinn's stable, is a half to the talented six-furlong performer Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), who captured the G2 July S. and Listed Cathedral S. and was placed in the G1 Middle Park S., G2 Gimcrack S., G2 Richmond S. and G2 Norfolk S. The dam Pure Illusion (Ire) (Danehill) is a daughter of the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. scorer Saintly Speech (Southern Halo), who is also the second dam of the G3 Park Express S. and G3 C. L. Weld Park S. winner Chrysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) whose son Cunco (Ire) was Frankel's first 2-year-old winner before going on to take the G3 Sandown Classic Trial. Pure Illusion's 2-year-old colt by Aclaim (Ire) is named Highfield Viking (GB).

Wednesday, York, Britain
1895 DUKE OF YORK CLIPPER LOGISTICS S.-G2, £140,000, York, 5-11, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.62, gd.
1–HIGHFIELD PRINCESS (FR), 133, m, 5, by Night of Thunder (Ire)
     1st Dam: Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill
     2nd Dam: Saintly Speech, by Southern Halo
     3rd Dam: Eloquent Minister, by Deputy Minister
1ST GROUP WIN. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn; J-Jason Hart. £79,394. Lifetime Record: 26-9-5-5, $423,991. *1/2 to Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $355,619. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spycatcher (Ire), 136, c, 4, Vadamos (Fr)–Damask (Ire), by Red Clubs (Ire).
(90,000gns 2yo '20 TATBRE). O-Highclere T'BredRacing-Adriana Zaefferer; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Karl Richard Burke. £30,100.
3–Minzaal (Ire), 136, c, 4, Mehmas (Ire)–Pardoven (Ire), by Clodovil (Ire).
(85,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 140,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Ringfort Stud (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £15,064.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1, 6. Odds: 5.50, 9.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Garrus (Ire), Ejtilaab (Ire), Vadream (GB), Dragon Symbol (GB), Rohaan (Ire), Hurricane Ivor (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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