Highfield Princess took the Quinn stable on an extraordinary journey, winning 14 of her 39 career starts and earning close to £2 million in prize-money for her owner-breeder John Fairley. 

She tasted Group 1 success four times and mixed it with some of the fastest horses in the world. However, the Prix de l'Abbaye, Nunthorpe, Flying Five and Prix Maurice de Gheest scorer could not be saved after suffering an accident in her stable. 

A statement released by the Quinn team on Sunday morning read, “She suffered an inoperable fracture following an accident in her stable and, although over the past week she fought with the same extraordinary spirit she showed on the racecourse, last night lost her battle for life. We would like to thank Jonathan Anderson and the team at Rainbow Equine Hospital, who did everything possible to help the Princess and keep her comfortable.”

John Quinn added, “Highfield Princess took us all on the most remarkable journey. She possessed Group 1 ability but also a Group 1 attitude. Whether it was a routine canter or a big sprint race around the world she put one hundred per cent effort into what she did. I am grateful for all that she did for herself and for our team. We will miss her more than words can say.”

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The mare's trainers John and Sean Quinn, via a statement issued on social media on Thursday, said, “That morning she was transferred to Rainbow Equine Hospital and has been in their care ever since. Her progress over the past few days has been encouraging and whilst she still has a way to go to make a full recovery we are hopeful that with time and care she will be OK.”

The seven-year-old was bred by Fairley from the Danehill mare Pure Illusion (Ire). Unraced at two, Highfield Princess plied her trade in handicaps as a three-year-old before shooting up the ranks in the ensuing seasons. She claimed her first black-type success in the Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' S. at Chelmsford at four before a standout season as a five-year-old when she posted back to-back Group 1 victories in three different countries in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five. She claimed another top-level success last year in the Prix de l'Abbaye. In total, her 14 wins from 39 starts included six Group victories.

Fairley said, “What a fantastic mare she has been. An Australian owner commented last year that she was probably the fastest mare in the world. To have bred and raced a mare to win three Group 1 races in five weeks in 2022 was fantastic. We hope that she will make a full recovery and be fit to take up broodmare duties next year.”

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The entries include no fewer than 55 Group 1 winners from around the globe, including Sunday Racing's exciting Japanese Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who was given the option of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over the 2400 metres or the 2000 metres of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, the world's richest turf race at the distance at HK$36 million. Though her participation in Hong Kong hinges on her performance in the G1 Japan Cup just two weekends prior, she would in all likelihood face defending champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), fourth in the Oct. 7 G1 Turnbull S. at Flemington and current ante-post favourite for Saturday's G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Sunday's high-quality renewal of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) could also produce a runner or two for the Cup in the form of Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) and/or Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}).

Aidan O'Brien has 13 horses under his care that are among the HKIR entries, including G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who is also penciled in for a start in the Japan Cup and has entries for both the Cup and the Vase. Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Cox Plate entrant Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) are also possible for the Cup, while Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) may try to regroup in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile after struggling in the bottomless ground on Champion Day at Ascot Oct. 21. The Hong Kong-owned and Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a likely marquee ride at the meeting for Frankie Dettori, is entered for the Mile, where he could clash with two-time winner and multiple Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), as well as the talented California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who served notice with a weight-carrying victory in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. when first-up for nearly six months on Oct. 15.

Exciting group of entries for #HKIR 2023!

PADDINGTON
CONTINUOUS
LUXEMBOURG
VICTORIA ROAD
BOLSHOI BALLET
POINT LONSDALE
AESOP'S FABLES
MOSS TUCKER
WARM HEART
ABOVE THE CURVE
ABSURDE
BROOME
KYPRIOS
PIZ BADILE
RED RIDING HOOD
VAUBAN
CAIRO#HKRacing | @HRIRacing pic.twitter.com/8QoPKJw43U

— Hong Kong Racing (@HongKong_Racing) October 25, 2023

Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) has eschewed a return trip to America for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in favour of an appearance in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. The 6-year-old mare could square off there with champion local sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), who endured a luckless passage in last year's renewal in finishing sixth to Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}). The latter is now conditioned by Jamie Richards, in his second season in Hong Kong, and who has assumed training duties with the retirement of Richard Gibson. Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is a potential HKIR raider from France, having defeated fellow Vase entry Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in August.

Since the easing of COVID-related travel restrictions, the connections of Australian-based horses have been more willing to consider HKIR as a post-Melbourne Cup Carnival option, and such is the case this year, as 23 horses have been entered across the four races. The lot is headed up by last year's Melbourne Cup upsetter Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), four-times Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars {Aus}) and the ultra-consistent Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), each of whom are among the 12-strong Cox Plate field on Saturday.

A relatively bulky 10-horse entry from North America includes the Bill Mott-trained multiple Grade I winners War Like Goddess (English Channel) and Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), while trainer Mark Casse is also represented by a pair in Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and Get Smokin (Get Stormy).

Three-time Group 1 winner Sharp 'n' Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is the lone entrant from New Zealand, while Singapore's best Lim's Kosciuzsko (Aus) (Kermadec {NZ}) and Famous Jonathon (NZ) (Deep Field {Aus}) from Macau have also been entered.

North American 2023 #HKIR entries!

CASA CREED
BIG INVASION
BRAN
GEAR JOCKEY
SOLDIER RISING
ANISETTE
TWIST
WAR LIKE GODDESS
GET SMOKIN
FEV ROVER#HKRacing | @HKRacingUS pic.twitter.com/HljN3Ie5Fk

— Hong Kong Racing (@HongKong_Racing) October 25, 2023

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The second of City Of Troy's outings in a renewal of the G2 Superlative S. which contained some smart types including the subsequent G2 Vintage S. winner Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) marked him out in terms of stride pattern and sectionals as a rare jewel. Extremely rare. It will be a shock if he is overturned so early with conditions likely to suit and there is every chance we will witness another Hawk Wing or Pinatubo moment in this esteemed race despite the trainer's reservations as to his condition.

“He's a good bit heavier than he was at Newmarket, as he's done very well so that's a little bit of a worry but he's ready for his start-back run of the autumn and everyone is very happy with him,” Aidan O'Brien said. “I'd imagine he'll come forward for the run.”

Whatever happens here, we will find out just how good City Of Troy is with Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in attendance. While he could not match Ballydoyle's River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S., Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's kingpin has gone from strength-to-strength in the meantime and improved off a narrow G2 Railway S. win to inflict a four-length defeat on the G3 Albany S. scorer Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the G1 Phoenix S. last month. Whether seven furlongs is his bag remains to be seen and the long-striding favourite will be testing that premise for sure.

Bucanero Fuerte's trainer Adrian Murray is living the dream. “He seems to be getting better and better–it's hard to believe,” he said. “He looks like a horse that's going to train on, he's a big, long scopey horse and has a beautiful mind. He's thriving with racing and hopefully he keeps it going.”

Aidan O'Brien is suggesting at present that he is also going to run fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the son of Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) there also as ample back-up should the rains come. Reportedly underwhelming compared to his homework when taking the course-and-distance G2 Futurity S. last month, this experience will do him no harm based on the workrate of his dam, who first showed her raw material when winning this card's G1 Moyglare Stud S. back in 2015.

Kyprios | Scoop Dyga

Welcome Back Kyprios…

The Irish St Leger is short on numbers and depth in terms of group 1 talent, but it does at least see the near-miraculous comeback of the badly-stricken Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). While he has a 344-day absence to overcome, such was his dominion in 2022 that it is possible he could pick up the thread where he left off with that remarkable performance in the G1 Prix du Cadran. It is hard to say whether that errant 20-length romp rates higher than his defeat of Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in this or his thrilling denial of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Goodwood Cup, but all three victories along with his first G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot place him alongside Ballydoyle's great stayers. Only stablemate Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) can get anywhere in the same vicinity in terms of class, so a 90% Kyprios might still be good enough.

Aidan O'Brien spoke earnestly on Saturday of the ordeal of getting Kyprios back to the track. “I can't believe he's here,” he said. “It's not that long ago that I didn't think he was going to make it, so all credit to the team–he had to be taught to walk, trot and canter again his injury was that bad. The intensity of his training has got stronger and stronger and it is testament to his constitution that he is going to run. You'd be afraid of your life watching him and I don't know if it is possible to win a race like this from where he is. Emily Dickinson needs rain, even though we have run her on faster ground and there are showers around. It's just whether they come or not.”

Moyglare Stud's Fiona Craig added of Kyprios, “He's just a bigger horse than he was before and I think they've gone steadily with him because of the injury, but I don't think Aidan would be running him if he didn't think he was going to run well. It will just be great to see him back at the races because he's a very popular horse, there's more people ask me about Kyprios than anything else we own! He's the horse that wherever you are in the world, people ask you about the big chestnut horse.”

Ylang Ylang Poised For Moyglare Test…

Saturday's action confirmed that Ballydoyle's juvenile team seem even more formidable than usual in 2023 and it is up to the unbeaten TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to uphold the fillies' end in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juveniel Fillies. The 1.5 million Tatts Book 1 sensation could do no more than beat Al Shira'aa Farms' subsequent G2 Debutante S. winner Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown in July, but she might need to raise her level again here judged on the runner-up's rate of progression in the interim.

Vespertilio's trainer Willie McCreery is happy to re-engage. “The going is down as good for Sunday and it may well quicken up a bit before her race, but it was similar ground last month,” he said. “Ylang Ylang is the obvious one we've got to beat, but if you're not in it, you can't win it. We'll just let Billy see how the race pans out before he decides how to take things, but we're looking forward to it, that's for sure.”

There is also the aforementioned G3 Albany S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Porta Fortuna and Clipper Logistics' impressive G3 Sweet Solera S. scorer Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) to contend with, along with the sponsors' dark horse Red Viburnum (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to consider. She showed up well when third on debut in a decent course-and-distance conditions race last month and it is significant that Dermot Weld is pitching her in at this level so soon in the race he would so love to win for the owner-breeders.

“She's come on for her first run, when she ran very well,” Moyglare's Fiona Craig commented. “To give Chris Hayes his due, he dropped her in behind and taught her and I've seen her work since and she worked much sharper. I think it was more greenness than anything and it took a few strides for the penny to drop, but she galloped out way beyond the others at the end. She'll have moved on a bit since then, whether she's moved on enough to win this race is another matter, but all you can do is compete and see.”

Highfield Princess | Scoop Dyga

Highfield Princess Flying…

Despite the obvious kudos that Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) carries around with her, The Curragh's G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five S. is no penalty kick for last year's winner with her G1 King's Stand S. conqueror Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in action along with another compatriot in Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This ground is quick enough for John Quinn's star mare and Art Power's quirky yet formidable 100% record in Ireland really is something to behold. Just witness his emphatic latest win in the course-and-distance G2 Sapphire S. for the evidence of what he can do when in the zone.

Quinn is aware of the challenge in this “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. “It's a tough race and Bradsell is in it and Tim Easterby's horse who is absolutely dynamite at the Curragh and then there are a few others as well, but we're happy with our filly,” he said. “The Curragh suited her last year, so I hope it suits her again on Sunday. Everything has been fine since York and it's great to have an animal like her. She wears it on her sleeve and we're looking forward to Sunday.”

Alastair Donald, racing manager for Art Power's owners King Power Racing, said, “He seems to have a bit of a love affair with Ireland and seems to find a key couple of lengths over there. He has often been a length short in group ones over here and we're looking forward to seeing him. The ground should be fine and he has a good draw, but obviously Bradsell and Highfield Princess make it a very strong renewal. Without being rude to the others, it looks to be between the three of them and if he can show his previous Irish form, he has to be a live contender.”

Blue Rose Cen Back In The Vermeille…

Away from the Irish Champions Festival, ParisLongchamp's Arc Trials card sees the return of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille as she moves up to a mile and a half for the first time. Looking as if it would suit when a close-up fourth in a tactically-compromising running of the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time, Yeguada Centurion's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine has the pedigree to last and the heart for it also. Whether she can cope with the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is another matter given that Ballydoyle raider's effectiveness on a fast surface and their clash is eagerly-anticipated.

Christopher Head said of Blue Rose Cen, “We are trying her over a distance that is very different from the beginning just to see what we will do in the future. We need to see what she can do over 2400 metres to be sure about what we do over the next year. There is still the possibility she will get supplemented for the Arc. That will all depend on the result of the Vermeille and her aptitude over that kind of distance.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Warm Heart, “She's in good form and her last run at York was very good. She likes nice, fast ground and she's very comfortable at a mile and a half so we're looking forward to seeing her run again. She probably won't run get to run in this part of the world after Sunday, as the ground might get soft so she might head for the Breeders' Cup, if everything went well.”

Arc Picture To Become Clearer…

It is hard to imagine at present with the sun so intense and the temperatures so high, but ParisLongchamp's autumn showcase is just around the corner and Sunday's card will start to set the tone. The G2 Qatar Prix Foy, which has produced just the one Arc winner this century, sees a fascinating clash between two lively outsiders for the main event in Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger})–successful in this 12 months ago before adding an eclectic mix of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G1 Prix Ganay to his tally–and last year's G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The G2 Qatar Prix Niel looks hotter, with Jean-Louis Bouchard's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) at the moment a genuine frontline contender for the big one. He will be compromised if this gets as tactical as it often does, with the G1 Deutsches Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) adding intrigue.

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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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A general 10-1 chance to emulate last year's winner Nature Strip (Aus) and the brilliant Scenic Blast (Aus), Miss Andretti (Aus), Takeover Target (Aus) and Choisir (Aus) by winning the King's Stand for Australia, success for Cannonball would also reverberate as far as Northern Ireland. 

Harron's adopted home may be Australia, where he has operated numerous successful colts partnerships for well over a decade now, but the Northern Irishman has long aspired to bring one good enough to one of the first big meetings that first enthralled him with the sport. In Cannonball, he is confident that he has found the right horse to make the long trip worthwhile. 

He said, “I truly believe that we haven't seen the best of Cannonball yet and I am hoping and praying for a fast track at Ascot on the Tuesday. If we get that, you will see a very big performance. 

James Harron | JH Bloodstock

“You'll see him in the mounting yard and be able to point him out as the big Aussie sprinter–he's a magnificent animal, big and strong. He really does command a lot of presence in the ring and is cut out for the job.”

Harron added, “It would be absolutely huge if he were to be successful. Hard to put it into words, I guess. It would certainly be one of my career highlights and it's just wonderful to be able to bring a lot of the owners over from Australia so, for them to be able to experience what Royal Ascot offers, and if he could be successful, it would be an experience that money couldn't buy. 

“It would be amazing for all the team, amazing for Peter Snowden [joint-trainer] himself, who is flying over to Ascot along with his wife Lyn, and of course Brett Prebble [jockey] who has been doing so much work with us in Australia. It would be so satisfying to share that experience with everyone who works so hard and has been great supporters of ours.”

Victory would no doubt be made extra special by the fact that Cannonball is by Capitalist, the Golden Slipper-winning two-year-old and just about the most successful young stallion to have come through Harron's colts partnerships.

Cannonball will be Capitalist's first ever runner in Europe and, according to Harron, the three-year-old has a lot of the right qualities needed to win the King's Stand. 

Harron said, “He's a very, very fast horse. Physically, he's developed extremely well as he's gone through his three-year-old year. He really thrives on good ground, has a high cruising speed and he can roll off fast sectionals. Five furlongs on good ground is right up his alley and it's those reasons that made us think that the King's Stand was the race that would be most suited to him.”

He added, “It's a huge effort to travel a horse to the royal meeting from Australia. There's a lot that goes into the organisation of it all and, from a logistical point of view and a staffing point of view, it's a huge effort. You have to give the trip a lot of consideration given the value of the horse you are travelling and because we've got such wonderful prize-money and other options that also need to be considered at home in Australia. 

“It's something you take very seriously, not to mention the quality of the opposition in Europe, which is very much respected. Coming into the King's Stand, you have the brilliant mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and many more to be fearful of, so it's certainly a huge challenge. But the great Australian sprinters have paved the way for this sort of a trip and that gives us confidence that we can come to Royal Ascot and be competitive with Cannonball.” 

One of the shrewdest operators on the international stage, Harron can also count Foxwedge (Aus) and King's Legacy (Aus) as graduates of his successful system of buying yearlings with the view of turning them into multi million dollar stallion prospects. 

He is also one of the slot holders in The Everest, a race he has won twice–with Redzel (Aus) in 2017 and Giga Kick (Aus) last year–and manages a number of high profile owner portfolios and broodmare bands. 

There are few better versed on the global bloodstock market than Harron, who bought Cannonball for AU$975,000 as a yearling from Newgate Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. He explained that, whilst he is shunning potentially lucrative pots in his homeland in favour of running at the royal meeting, the potential upside to the trip is creating a stallion with global appeal. 

He said, “Being from Ireland myself, Royal Ascot is something that will always be in the back of my head when I potentially have the right horse to travel across. We were always thinking that Cannonball's profile fitted the bill given his best distance is five to five-and-a-half furlongs. Now, he may get six furlongs strongly as he gets older and more seasoned but, right now, the King's Stand trip looks to be in his wheelhouse. 

“The other thing with this horse, he's run three or four times on soft ground and he just doesn't like it whatsoever-he's very ineffective on it. We were aware of that coming into the autumn, when he got his ground when returning from a decent break to beat the older horses at Rosehill and then he backed that up a week later to run third–unlucky not to be second–in a Group 1.

“That gave us the confidence to pull the trigger on Royal Ascot. He's on the up and is improving. We got together with all the connections to discuss it and we just had the confidence that Cannonball was the right horse to have a go at Royal Ascot with.” 

Harron added, “Royal Ascot is such a prestigious event. It's an incredible week's racing and, in terms of this colt, he's beautifully-bred and is by Capitalist, who is obviously very close to our hearts and is doing an amazing job as a stallion at home in Australia. This will be Capitalist's first ever European runner, not to mean Royal Ascot, and if Cannonball was to be successful, it would obviously be huge for his potential stud value. This is the world stage and all eyes will be on the King's Stand. It's a true test of speed, which of course is very desirable for people in Australia. We wanted to give him the opportunity and he certainly won't let us down. We will find out exactly where he fits in.”

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“I'm very happy with her,” Quinn said. “She's been back in for a while, she's in good nick and we'll start her off at York in the Duke of York. She came back in towards the end of January, so she's been in a while and York will soon come round. We'll see how we go, but after York you'd be looking at Royal Ascot and on from there.

“With a bit of luck we'll roll the dice with her as it's her last year.”

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Both trained in Newmarket throughout their careers, Alpinista and Baaeed have won 11 Group 1 races between them. They are joined on the short list for Cartier Horse of the Year by John Fairley's treble Group 1-winning sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Moyglare Stud and Coolmore's leading stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Along with Kyprios, four other horses nominated are trained by Aidan O'Brien, including three of the four in the juvenile colts' category: Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the No Nay Never 2-year-olds Blackbeard (Ire) and Little Big Bear (Ire).

Eight equine awards will be presented during the evening, along with one special non-equine presentation. The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit is given to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the 16-strong Cartier jury, has done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

The full list of nominees for the 2022 Cartier Racing Awards is as follows:

Cartier Horse of the Year
Alpinista
Baaeed
Highfield Princess
Kyprios

Cartier Older Horse
Alpinista
Baaeed
Bay Bridge
Kinross

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
Coroebus
Desert Crown
Modern Games
Vadeni

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
Emily Upjohn
Inspiral
Nashwa
Tuesday

Cartier Sprinter
Highfield Princess
Kinross
Minzaal
Nature Strip

Cartier Stayer
Eldar Eldarov
Kyprios
Stradivarius
Trueshan

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt
Auguste Rodin
Blackbeard
Chaldean
Little Big Bear

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly
Commissioning
Lezoo
Tahiyra
The Platinum Queen

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This is a racing publication, of course, but before we reflect on the action on the racecourse, it would be remiss not to mention the heartbreaking human loss which was so intrinsically entwined with the sport. 

Grief engulfed two nations. Wednesday brought the indelibly sad image of Henry de Bromhead as one of the pallbearers carrying his son Jack's wicker casket from the Butlerstown's Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary surrounded by mourners of all ages. In solidarity with their friend who lost his life at the age of 13 in a pony racing accident, many of the youngsters appeared at the service in their riding gear.

Jack's grandfather Andrew Moffat and parents Henry and Heather gave us all a lesson in how to grieve with the utmost dignity while paying a magnificent tribute to the boy whose loss has touched people who never even met him, such was the eloquence of their respective eulogies. And during Irish Champions Weekend, Jack de Bromhead was remembered in the red armbands borne by the jockeys in his memory.

In Britain the armbands were a more sombre black. The death of the Queen is in many ways easier to bear than the loss of a teenager with so much sparkle and promise. A 96-year-old woman dying peacefully in the comfort of the Scottish home she adored is what could be described as a 'good death', but Her Majesty's passing is  of course far more symbolic than that. Its repercussions will be felt way beyond her funeral next Monday when Britain's period of national mourning ends. 

The absence of the sport's most celebrated insider will be felt keenly in racing circles. There are enough members of the royal family with a strong love of horses for us to be able to hope that the Royal Studs will endure, but none of the Queen's descendants appear to share quite the level of absorption and devotion she had for breeding and racing. Change will surely come.

Another two redoubtable members of the racing and breeding community also left us in the last week. On Tuesday evening came the shock news of James Delahooke's sudden death on the Yorkshire moors, while on Saturday the passing was reported of Evie Stockwell, whose contribution to the breeding industry has been enormously significant on both the equine and human front. At the age of 97 she had survived her twin sister Lady Mimi Manton by one month. As Eddie O'Leary observed in Nancy Sexton's tribute to Mrs Stockwell, “The world has lost two Queens this week.”

May it come as some comfort to the de Bromhead, Delahooke, Magnier, and O'Callaghan families that the thoughts of their friends and colleagues in the racing world are with them during this sad time.

The Versatile Dubawi Line

So to the horses. A one-two in the St Leger with Eldar Eldarov (GB) and New London (Ire) gave Dubawi (Ire) his 53rd Group 1 win worldwide, and if you are looking for a pattern for his offspring, the answer is that there isn't one, other than a shared willingness to win. 

From top Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Nine (Ire), who was one of his earliest stars, through champion 2-year-olds, Classic milers, smart middle-distance horses, and a Horse of the Year in Ghaiyyath (Ire), Dubawi pretty much has all the bases covered, including a slew of sons at stud. As well as in Britain's final Classic of the season, the line was also represented at Ireland's Champions Weekend when John Fairley's admirable Highfield Princess (Fr), by Dubawi's Guineas-winning son Night Of Thunder (Ire), sped her way to a third consecutive Group 1 win in three different countries, this time dropping back to the minimum trip to claim the Flying Five. 

Dubawi's latest Classic winner in the delayed St Leger came on the back of his daughter Mimikyu's win in the G2 Park Hill S. on the same afternoon that the White Birch Farm homebred juvenile Kubrick (Ire) won the G3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp. On European earnings, Dubawi has edged ahead of Frankel (GB) in the leading sires' table and in fact he is way out in front when it comes to black-type winners for the year, his tally of 38 (12% of his runners) putting him ahead of Frankel by 14. The two mighty stallions, who live only about a mile from each other as the crow flies, are level pegging on seven Group 1 winners apiece this year in Europe.

The Lanwades Success Story Continues 

In her role as Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk, Kirsten Rausing was acting as master of ceremonies on Sunday while Newmarket's mayor Philippa Winter read the proclamation of the accession of King Charles III as Britain's new monarch. This meant that Rausing was not on Town Moor to witness a notable first for her as the breeder of a British Classic winner in Eldar Eldarov. 

She was however present for her first British Group 1 winner in her own colours when Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) won the Yorkshire Oaks to bring her Group 1 haul to five. Eldar Eldarov and Alpinista are out of the half-sisters Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from the Lanwades Alruccaba (GB) family which just keeps giving. 

From a different family entirely springs the expat Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), another redoubtable Lanwades-bred who is thriving in Australia and now has 13 victories to his name, including the G2 Tramway S. on September 3. He is bound for the G1 Cox Plate on October 22 via the G1 Underwood later this month.

Firsts and Seconds For Many

Eldar Eldarov's St Leger win was also of significance for more of his connections. Notably, he became the second breeze-up graduate from Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm to win a Classic this season following the Irish 2,000 Guineas success of Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), last year's champion 2-year-old. Williamson was also the breeze-up pinhooker behind the 2019 Preakness S. winner War Of Will, who now stands alongside his sire War Front at Claiborne Farm. 

For Roger Varian, it was a second victory in Britain's oldest Classic following Kingston Hill (GB) in 2014, and his faith in his young stable jockey David Egan was repaid handsomely as the 23-year-old notched his first Classic victory in the same season he lost his retainer with Prince AA Faisal, for whom he won the 2021 Saudi Cup as well as two Group 1s aboard Mishriff (Ire).

Eldar Eldarov had been bought at the relocated Arqana Breeze-up Sale for £480,000 by Oliver St Lawrence for Bahrain's KHK Racing, thus also giving that relatively new owner in British racing a significant first Classic success. 

Kyprios Continues to Climb

The opening up of the Irish St Leger to older horses almost 40 years ago means that there have been a number of repeat winners, most notably the Dermot Weld-trained Vinnie Roe (Ire), who owned the race between 2001 and 2005. With Vincent O'Brien, Weld jointly holds the record for the most number of winners of the Irish St Leger, with the last two of his nine being provided by the admirable Moyglare Stud-bred filly Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Now six, she has run in the race in all four of her seasons in training, and added a third place to her fine record this year when finishing almost eight lengths behind her full-brother Kyprios (Ire), who is now the pre-eminent stayer in training following his unbeaten season which includes lifting the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup.

The Weld stable enjoyed a successful Irish Champions Weekend, however, when unleashing the Aga Khan's Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), a half-sister to the brilliant Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), to win the G1 Moyglare Stud S. on just her second racecourse appearance. A day earlier her 3-year-old stablemate Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) won the G3 Paddy Power S., leading home a one-two for Maurice Regan's Newtown Anner Stud, which also owned and bred runner-up Thunder Kiss (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

Kyprios, who runs in the Moyglare colours but is co-owned by the Coolmore partners, sealed a fruitful weekend for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore as Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) confirmed his juvenile promise by winning the G1 Irish Champion S. on only his second start since resuming from an injury earlier in the season.

Auguste Rodin (Ire), bred on theDeep Impact (Jpn)/Galileo (Ire) cross that has already yielded Classic winners Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and Snowfall (Jpn) for O'Brien, continued the tremendous run of the Ballydoyle juveniles this year with his success in the G2 Champion Juvenile S. in his first run in Pattern class. He could now be headed to England next month for either the Dewhurst or Vertem Futurity. It requires no leap of imagination to see Auguste Rodin make up into a serious Classic contender for next season as the colt is the first foal of the treble Group 1 winner Rhododendron (Ire), a sister to Magical (Ire) and daughter of the equally brilliant Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

Hint of Things to Come

Al Riffa (Fr) took quite a step up from maiden company to winning the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. on Sunday for Joseph O'Brien, and the result will certainly have been welcomed by the Coolmore camp. Though the colt from the penultimate French crop of Wootton Bassett (GB) is not owned by the Coolmore team but by Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah, he, like Auguste Rodin, is out of a Galileo mare and represents a cross that we are likely to see more frequently in runners following the stallion's move to Coolmore Stud two seasons ago.

The Galileo mares in Wootton Bassett's first Irish crop include Snowfall's dam Best In The World (Ire), Arc winner Found (Ire), and G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Clemmie (Ire), who is also a sister to Churchill (Ire), while those currently in foal to him include Group 1 winners Minding (Ire), Hydrangea (Ire), Marvellous (Ire) and Happily (Ire).

Al Riffa, who was bred by a partnership led by Haras d'Etreham, is Wootton Bassett's sixth Group 1 winner, that group being split evenly between colts and fillies. His pedigree certainly gives plenty of hope for him to thrive with age and a bit of a step up in distance. His unraced dam Love On My Mind is a sister to the dual Sagaro S. winner and Gold Cup runner-up Mizzou (Ire), while their dam Moments Of Joy (GB) was a Listed winner over 1m6f and is herself a daughter of the G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}).

Al Riffa was sold as a foal at Arqana to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for €31,000 the same day that his dam went through the ring for just €11,000, bought by Arqana representative Zied Romdhane. The 10-year-old mare now has a yearling filly by Land Force (Ire) and was subsequently covered by St Leger winner Galileo Chrome (Ire).

Kingsclere in the Spotlight

Andrew Balding's association with Juddmonte has started in some style thanks to the smart juvenile Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who added the G2 Champagne S. to his victory in York's G3 Acomb S. 

A successful Doncaster St Leger meeting for the Kingsclere team also included group wins for two stalwart owners of Park House Stables. First, Bounce The Blues (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) won the G3 JRA Sceptre Fillies' S for the irrepressible Barbara Keller, one of the most enthusiastic owners in the business who also raced the Grade 1 winner Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Similar comments apply to Mick and Janice Mariscotti, who certainly know how to celebrate a big winner and struck on Sunday with the G2 Doncaster Cup winner Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). With victories in the Ascot S. at Royal Ascot and in the Listed Esher Cup, the progressive stayer, who missed almost the whole of his 4-year-old season has certainly given the Mariscottis plenty of cause for cheer this year. Patience rewarded. 

The spotlight will soon be thrown on the Balding stable which features in a new series to be released later this month on Amazon Prime. 'Horsepower' runs in four parts from September 23 and, according to the press release announcing its launch, it “captures a momentous period in the lives and careers of its two main protagonists, racehorse trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy”. 

The documentary series was being filmed when Murphy was banned for 14 months for Covid regulation and alcohol breaches. The trailer for Horsepower can be viewed below.

Stallions on a Roll

Shadwell's Muhaarar (GB) was represented by Group/Grade 2 winners on each side of the Atlantic last week. On Thursday, Polly Pott (GB) made sure Harry Dunlop's training career will go out with a bang by landing her fourth consecutive win on her first outing in stakes company when winning the G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster. 

Over at Kentucky Downs, Bran (Fr) won the GII Fanduel Turf Sprint S. Not only was the John Sadler trainee bred in France by Lordship Stud but she was ridden to victory by French Classic-winning jockey Vincent Cheminaud, who is now based in America. 

Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega was another stallion to exhibit his versatility on Sunday when represented at Longchamp by G1 Prix Vermeille winner Sweet Lady (Fr) over 1m4f and also by the 5f winner Berneuil (Ire), who landed the G3 Prix du Petit Couvert. Both horses are out of mares by Dansili (GB), which is a cross that has also worked well to produce Grade I winner Capla Temptress (Ire), Group 2 winner Cadillac (Ire), and the dual Group 1 runner-up and Group 3 winner Lope Y Fernandez (Ire).

Lope De Vega has been on a roll of late, with his daughter Dreamloper (Ire) winning the previous weekend's G1 Prix du Moulin to add to her G1 Prix d'Ispahan success, and the aforementioned Duke De Sessa winning a Group 3 on Saturday at Leopardstown. 

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Highfield Princess is chasing a third Group 1 win on the spin when she lines out in Sunday's Flying Five S. at the Curragh, one of the feature races of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and Quinn, a native of County Tipperary who has been based in England for the majority of his racing career, is in no doubt that the speedball is the best he's trained.

That's not to say that Highfield Princess was always talked about in such vaunted terms. She may be one of the fastest racehorses around, but Highfield Princess would never have made big money at the sales, given she is noticeably off in front. However, Quinn has always had a soft spot for the way the filly goes about her business.

He recalls, “She had a nice demeanor as a 2-year-old but was backward. She's a typical Night Of Thunder, she's not correct in front and is well off on one, but, funnily enough, she's a wonderful mover. She has great fluidity. You get some horses who are not correct and they move terribly because they can't move any other way. But this filly stretches.”

Quinn added, “This is the best horse we've ever had. We've been lucky to have top-class Flat horses and a few top-class jumpers as well.

“We've had Cheltenham and Aintree winners, won the Queen Mary with Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) and The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) won the Coventry S. and was champion 2-year-old in France, so we've been lucky to have had some very good horses, but she's the best. She's a phenomenal filly.”

And this phenomenal filly sets a daunting standard at the Curragh on Sunday. She was a brilliant winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in August and was even better in landing the G1 Nunthorpe S. in rare style at York. While Quinn doesn't do confidence, he expects a bold show from his stable star this weekend.

He said, “These Group 1s, they're hard races to win and the rain is coming and there's a few horses in there that will appreciate the ease in the ground. We just want to get her down to the start on Sunday and take it from there.”

Quinn will also be represented on Irish Champions Weekend by Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), who runs in the “Sovereign Path” H. at Leopardstown on Saturday.

It was at Leopardstown where Safe Voyage recorded one of his career highlights when landing the G2 Boomerang Mile at this meeting in 2020 and Quinn has already been in the winner's enclosure in Ireland this season when Mr Wagyu (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) landed the Scurry H. at the Curragh in July.

In short, Quinn knows a thing or two about bagging big-race riches on home soil and, on returning home to Ireland with leading contenders this weekend, he added, “I love Ireland–I think about Ireland every day. I've been in England a long time but it's great to go back with nice horses. We only like to go back over when we think we have a big chance.”

Along with being well able to plunder big prizes on the track, Quinn has earned a reputation of being a good man to source a bargain off it, and recalls how neither The Wow Signal nor Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) would have won any beauty pageants.

Despite this, both horses flew the flag for the Quinn stable with great distinction and the trainer is hopeful of picking up a few stars of the future at the yearling sales.

He said, “We got five at Doncaster, which is great, and Sean [son and assistant trainer] was at the Somerville Sale where we underbid a few. The first racing yard I went to when I was younger was Edward O'Grady's and my grandfather was a good stock man so I've picked up plenty down the years. We like a horse with a lot of quality and a bit of scope. You will forgive plenty in a horse if you think you can train them.

“I like to have a look at a horse from the side and like something with a good bit of heart room and a good hind leg. I've never had a good horse with a bad head–I hear some fellas saying they like a horse with small ears but I couldn't subscribe to that.

“Like everything in this game, you live and learn but you want a horse with a nice step, good bone and a nice outlook with a kind eye.”

He added, “The Wow Signal was incorrect in front but he was a phenomenal horse. Liberty Beach was another. She was ordinary enough to look at and had a very ordinary pedigree but, the minute she came into the yard, I said to Sean, 'I like the look of that, she could be a racehorse.' Highfield Princess would never have made big money but she always looked like a racehorse and that's what you want.”

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