While she may not quite be the same supercharged dragster who went through an unprecedented treble at this level in the space of just over a month last summer, the Queen of England's North proved here that when ability drops courage can still elevate.

Working hard from some way out having been cast an unfavourable wide draw, the 2-1 favourite gave her all for Jason Hart to eventually claw back her three-years-younger front-running compatriot Perdika (GB) (Unfortunately {Ire}) inside the last 50 metres and forge a length victory in this “Win and You're In” race for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Ballydoyle's revived G2 Futurity S.-winning TDN Rising Star Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) managed to force his way into the frame, a short head back as the habitual blanket finish occurred again in behind.

“She won that through pure guts,” Hart said of John Quinn's long-overdue first winner at this prestigious meeting. “She was flat out the whole way–the ground is a bit quick, but she has the heart of lion. It was only in the last 50 yards when the leader tied up that I knew we were going to win. I knew she was back to herself when I worked her a week ago and credit to connections for keeping her in training, as she's got another Group 1. What a mare, she's so tough.”

Although Highfield Princess had done nothing wrong in her Group 1s so far this term, with perhaps valid excuses for her Flying Five no-show last time, it was only in Goodwood's G2 King George S. that she had really shone and that aura of invincibility she had taken into the Breeders' Cup in November was gone by the time she lined up for this. For Quinn, the result was a personal triumph after some near-misses on this fixture in previous years.

“We have had plenty of horses run really well at this wonderful meeting–in the Abbaye, El Astronaute was third, Liberty Beach was beaten two heads and Safe Voyage was beaten two heads in the Foret,” he said. “It is one of the greatest meetings in the world and I hoped I would one day train a winner here and it is wonderful.”

“She tries hard and you could say from where she was drawn she was inconvenienced,” he added. “She toughed it into the race and toughed it out of the race, because two furlongs out she was flat out so fair dues to her. It was a very brave decision to keep her in training, considering she had won three Group 1s in Europe and was probably one of the best fillies around. I'm so pleased they have been totally vindicated. She's shown she's as good as any sprinting mare in the world.”

Quinn is looking for a second try at the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint following her fourth placing at Keeneland last year. “Why not? I will need to speak to my owner, but I would be strongly suggesting it,” he said. “We needed to see how today went and today went very well. I wouldn't rule out the Breeders' Cup or the big sprint at Hong Kong in December. It's John and his family's decision whether she'll race on next year, but as long as she's okay she could go to Santa Anita or Sha Tin.”

Sally Nicholls, owner-breeder of Perdika, was understandably delighted with the game performance of the rapid runner-up. “Her performance took my breath away. She ran so well,” she said. “Her future certainly lies at stud in 2024. A Group 1 placing changes everything regarding her broodmare profile. She loves France and so do we. Now we're going to crack open our piggy bank and send her to a good stallion.”

Aidan O'Brien was looking ahead with Aesop's Fables, who had spent so long in the wilderness but is back where he was last summer. “He ran really well against horses who had already proved themselves at this level,” he said. “He's blossoming as a sprinter right now. I haven't yet decided where we will be going with him next. One thing's for sure, though and that's that we'll be seeing a lot more of him over five furlongs in the future.”

Pedigree Notes

Highfield Princess, who was bred in the Calvados region at the Haras du Camp Benard run by Fabienne Simoes De Almeida and her mother Martine Van De Kerchove, was led out unsold at only 29,000gns when offered at the 2018 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. Fairley had paid just 18,000gns for the dam Pure Illusion from the Godolphin draft two years earlier at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and in the meantime, her son Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}) had captured the G2 July S. and had placed in the G1 Middle Park S., G2 Gimcrack S., G2 Richmond S. and G2 Norfolk S.

Pure Illusion is a daughter of the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner 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}) who in turn produced the G3 Sandown Classic Trial scorer Cunco (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and his G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S.-winning full-sister Maxux (Ire). The family also includes the G3 Prix du Calvados winner Woodland Melody (Woodman), whose listed-winning daughter Shady Reflection (Sultry Song) produced the GII Las Vegas Marathon S. and GIII Greenwood Cup scorer Cary Street (Smarty Jones).

Incredible performance! Highfield Princess is flat out most of the way but defies a nightmare draw to win the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines for @jasonhart13 and John Quinn pic.twitter.com/UWgZOCdgKL

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 1, 2023

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L'ABBAYE DE LONGCHAMP LONGINES-G1, €350,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-1, 2yo/up, 5fT, :55.07, g/s.
1–HIGHFIELD PRINCESS (FR), 133, m, 6, 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. €199,990. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & Ire, 38-14-8-6, €2,090,889. *1/2 to Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $355,619. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Perdika (GB), 133, f, 3, Unfortunately (Ire)–Golden Dirham (GB), by Kheleyf. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Sally Nicholls; B-Bumble Bloodstock & Mrs Sally Nicholls (GB); T-George Boughey. €80,010.
3–Aesop's Fables (Ire), 137, c, 3, No Nay Never–How's She Cuttin' (Ire), by Shinko Forest (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €40,005.
Margins: 1, SHD, NO. Odds: 2.10, 32.00, 43.00.
Also Ran: Get Ahead (GB), Rogue Lightning (Ire), Makarova (GB), White Lavender (Ire), Kerdos (Ire), Batwan (Fr), Ponntos (Ire), Moss Tucker (Ire), Bouttemont (Ire), Equality (GB), Dramatised (Ire), Tudo Bem (Fr), Equilateral (GB), Art Power (Ire), Asymmetric (Ire). Scratched: Coeur De Pierre (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post A Fourth Group 1 For Night Of Thunder’s Highfield Princess In The Abbaye appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“It's [been] a long time since a two-year-old has won the Nunthorpe [Kingsgate Native, 2007]. So, yes, it's a big ask for him, but hopefully he's going there with a very good chance at the weights. Jason doesn't ride as he is on Highfield Princess. Andrea Atzeni rides,” said conditioner Mick Appleby. “He's in good order. He did a good piece of work this morning and he'll probably have one more piece of work on Wednesday. I'm delighted with him.”

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Last term's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, G1 Nunthorpe and G1 Flying Five heroine broke sharply from the traps and was under a firm grip in second as habitual pacesetter Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}) led the way at a healthy clip. Cruising to the front on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker, the 4-9 favourite was not for catching thereafter and powered clear under mild coaxing inside the final furlong to easily outclass White Lavender (Ire) (Heeraat {Ire}) by three lengths. Fellow outsider Raasel (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) lost out by a neck in a bobbing finish for the minor placings.

“Highfield Princess ran really well in the [G2] Duke Of York and maybe got a bit tired,” Quinn said. “At Royal Ascot, she was beaten just a length in the [G1] King's Stand and then, four days later in the [G1] Jubilee, she ran another fantastic race. We decided to give her a break, which we did last summer, and we were pleased with her at home. She is a 6-year-old mare and, fair dues to her, she has bounced back well. She is a top-class filly and we are delighted to have her. All she has done is improve for racing and gone from being a top-class handicapper to being the best sprinting filly in Europe, if not the world. I was very keen for her to get her head in front for herself and today will have done her a lot of good. Group 2 races are so hard to win as well, but she had run here two years ago in the [G3] Oak Tree and handled the track lovely, so we thought she'd handle the track. We thought maybe, just maybe, this might be easier than, for instance, the [G1] Maurice de Gheest which we decided to miss.”

Highfield Princess will now prepare for a defence of her Nunthorpe and Flying Five titles, according to Quinn. “The plan is to go back for the Nunthorpe in our back yard and she really loves The Curragh, so it'll be the Nunthorpe and then back to Ireland and we will see after that,” he revealed. “I had thought about going to Australia, but I am a little bit cooler on that now. We will stay in Europe and then possibly go to the Breeders' Cup. She is a very good filly to travel and the lads always say you wouldn't know she was in the horse box, which is very good.”

It was business as usual for rider Jason Hart, who added, “Highfield Princess was her usual self. She jumped well, travelled great, and was much the best. The Czech horse [Ponntos] gave me a lead and I was kind of hoping he would give me a lead for a bit further. I had to commit a furlong-and-a-half down and, on that dead ground, I thought it might blunt her turn of foot, but she has won well. I was keen to give her a race without really getting stuck in. She absolutely ran her heart out in those two races at Royal Ascot and it was nice to see her bounce back and get her head back in front and win by a bit of distance. She has always improved throughout the years and has got better with her racing.”

White Lavender's rider Clifford Lee was satisfied with the performance of the runner-up and envisages another crack at ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye later in the year. “I am delighted with the run and she travelled really well throughout the race. She picked up nicely going for the two-furlong pole and we were beaten by a very good horse. She was second in the Abbaye last year, giving a lot of weight away, and she would definitely go close in that sort of race. She's very consistent and tries very hard.”

Raasel's trainer Mick Appleby was delighted with his charge's effort, who finished unplaced over the same strip in Tuesday's Coral H., and reflected, “Raasel has run a blinder. I think, in a way, we probably wish we didn't run on Tuesday, but we still wouldn't have beaten the winner. We might have got second, possibly, and he has shown that he has still got it. The draw made a big difference, he was drawn in the middle and needs loads of cover. The other day he was drawn on the wing and he just does too much when he's got daylight. I am not sure yet where we are going to go next and we will probably give him a bit of a break now. He's had a hard week this week, so we will give him a few weeks and then look to see where we go from there.”

Pedigree Notes
Highfield Princess is the ninth of 10 foals and one of six scorers thrown by a multiple-winning daughter of G3 Princess Margaret S. victrix Saintly Speech (Southern Halo), herself a half-sister to G3 Prix du Calvados winner Woodland Melody (Woodman) and Listed Naruo Kinen-winning sire Maruka Diesis (Diesis {GB}). Saintly Speech is the second dam of G3 Park Express S. winner Chrysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 Sandown Classic Trial-winning sire Cunco (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Descendants of Woodland Melody include GII Las Vegas Marathon and GIII Greenwood Cup victor Cary Street (Smarty Jones). The May-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to G2 July S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. third Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}).

Friday, Goodwood, Britain
KING GEORGE QATAR S.-G2, £300,000, Goodwood, 8-4, 3yo/up, 5fT, :58.92, g/s.
1–HIGHFIELD PRINCESS (FR), 127, m, 6, 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. £170,130. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, Fr & Ire, 35-13-7-6, $1,875,821. *1/2 to Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $355,619. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–White Lavender (Ire), 127, m, 5, Heeraat (Ire)–Goodnight And Joy (Ire), by Rip Van Winkle (Ire). O-Mrs Barbara M Keller; B-Paul McCartan (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £64,500.
3–Raasel (GB), 130, g, 6, Showcasing (GB)–Dubai Affair (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). (80,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT; 10,000gns 3yo '20 TATHRA). O-The Horse Watchers; B-Bearstone Stud (GB); T-Michael Appleby. £32,280.
Margins: 3, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.44, 28.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Makarova (GB), Kerdos (Ire), Ponntos (Ire), Equality (GB), Nymphadora (GB), Silky Wilkie (Ire), Ladies Church (GB), Equilateral (GB).

The post Night Of Thunder’s Highfield Princess Outclasses King George Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Electric from her outside stall under Jason Hart, the 16-1 shot who was a £52,000 purchase for original owners the Titanium Racing Club at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, had pressure throughout but shook it off to go clear inside the final furlong. Veering left in the run to the line, the grey daughter of the Listed Tipperary S. winner Sacred Aspect (Ire) (Haatef) had three lengths to spare over Pretty Crystal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the line.

This was a first group win for Charlie Johnston since taking up the licence in his own name at the famed Middleham stable and he said, “She is improving dramatically–very much so. On her first run at Pontefract I thought she was the best horse on the day, but she was quite green and got beat by two horses who'd had experience. If you had told me then that within two starts we'd be at this level, I'd have thought 'I'm not so sure about that' but she took a nice step forward at Newmarket and a step forward again.

“The owners obviously sponsor quite a high-profile race in France [the G1 Prix Morny] and on the back of that I would suspect they will want her to go there next. Possibly the [G1] Cheveley Park at the end of the year will be the obvious real highlight target.”

Richard Fahey said of the runner-up, “I thought it was a good run, but it just didn't work out again for her. She's been a bit unlucky. But she is quite a nice filly and she'll definitely go for the [G2] Lowther at York.”

Pedigree Notes

The aforementioned dam, whose yearling full-sister to the winner is catalogued in this year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in a month's time, hails from the family of last year's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp heroine The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), the G3 Greenlands S. winner Tiger Royal (Ire) (Royal Academy) and the listed winner and G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Sir Xaar (Ire) (Xaar {GB}).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
BATEAUX LONDON PRINCESS MARGARET S.-G3, £60,000, Ascot, 7-29, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:16.53, gd.
1–SACRED ANGEL (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
                1st Dam: Sacred Aspect (Ire) (SW-Ire), by Haatef
                2nd Dam: Again Royale (Ire), by Royal Academy
                3rd Dam: Lady Redford (Ire), by Bold Lad (Ire)
   1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (£52,000 Ylg '22
GOFFUK). O-Titanium Racing Club; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE);
T-Charlie Johnston; J-Jason Hart. £34,026. Lifetime Record:
3-2-0-1, $66,226. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks
   report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com
   catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pretty Crystal (Ire), 128, f, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Pretty Baby (Ire),
by Orpen. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh
Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited
(IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £12,900.
3–Symbology (GB), 128, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Showstoppa
(GB), by Showcasing (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK
   TYPE. (£230,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa;
B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. £6,456.
Margins: 3, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 16.00, 4.50, 3.50.
Also Ran: Dazzling Star (GB), Komat (GB), Cry Fiction (Ire), Gladly Ever After (Ire), Lunar Shine (Ire), La Guarida (Ire), Elinor Dashwood (Ire). Scratched: Soprano (Ire). VIDEO.

Group 3 Winner

Sacred Angel by @YeomanstownStud Dark Angel won the Princess Margaret Stakes @Ascot for @Johnston_Racing & @NurlanBizakov

She was sold by her breeders Yeomanstown Stud at the Premier Yearling Salepic.twitter.com/mcRp1uI1gr

— Goffs UK (@GoffsUK) July 29, 2023

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Out of Hana Lina (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a daughter of the champion Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) who took the Queen Mary here when it was a group 3 in 2001, Big Evs was not surprising his trainer, who had been third in Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. “Big Evs worked with Annaf earlier in the week and I thought this has got to have a great chance at Royal Ascot, because Annaf is a machine,” he said. “We really fancied him at Redcar, but the draw did us.”

Big performance from BIG EVS in the Windsor Castle Stakes! A comfortable victory on his second start – well done to @MickApplebyUK @JasonHart13 and RP Racing pic.twitter.com/suNU0iuYSJ

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 21, 2023

“It's a great team effort and thanks to [owner] Paul [Teasdale] for sending him to me,” Appleby added. He's got so much speed–I've never had a horse as quick as him. I'm not sure what we'll do next. There are some big targets to come for him now, so we'll see where we go with him.”

Hart added, “Mick was quietly confident and said this horse had done an excellent bit of work. He has taken a big step forward from his Redcar run and put up a good performance. I was massively hopeful we could reverse the placings with Hala Emaraaty, because there is a massive track bias at Redcar at the moment and I was drawn on the stands' side. If you don't get on the far side, you've not really got much chance and I had to use a lot of horse to get a good position. That told in the final 100 yards, but the horse has come on a lot for that run.”

Paul Teasdale revealed the meaning behind the winner's title. “I named Big Evs after someone very special, a man who I knew for 40 years, but he died in November. He was Paul Evans–we called him Evs and he was a big guy. We went racing together for 25 years and so to win this means so much.”

Pedigree Notes
The dam, who also has a yearling filly by Ribchester (Ire), is carrying on a rich Ascot tradition via her son with the aforementioned Queen's Logic who went on to win the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G2 Lowther S. also responsible for the high-class sprinter Lady Of The Desert (Rahy) who took the G2 Diadem S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. at this venue. She went on to produce Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}), another Lowther winner who was third in the G3 Albany S. The family also features the champion Dylan Thomas (Ire), whose several top-level victories included the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and G1 Prince of Wales's S., as well as the fellow Classic-winning luminaries Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
WINDSOR CASTLE S.-Listed, £100,000, Ascot, 6-21, 2yo, 5fT, :59.91, g/f.
1–BIG EVS (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Hana Lina (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Queen's Logic (Ire), by Grand Lodge
3rd Dam: Lagrion, by Diesis (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Jason Hart. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $74,891.
2–Johannes Brahms (GB), 131, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Illaunmore, by Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Chasemore Farm (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,500.
3–Inquisitively (GB), 131, c, 2, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Ballyalla (GB), by Mind Games (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (45,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 40,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Justin Casse & Partners; B-Glebe Farm Stud (GB); T-Ollie Sangster. £10,760.
Margins: 3, 3/4, NK. Odds: 20.00, 3.33, 18.00.
Also Ran: Up The Manor (GB), Alabama (Ire), Myconian (Ire), Hala Emaraaty (Ire), Ganesha (GB), Mayo Neighs (Ire), Supersonic Man (GB), Barnwell Boy (GB), Muqtahem (Ire), World of Darcy (Ire), Lieutenant Rascal (Ire), Action Point (Ire), Scoops Ahoy (Ire), Fusterlandia (Ire), Sergeant Wilko (Ire), Bombay Bazaar (GB), Sir Bolton (Ire), Hackman (Ire), Magnificent Match (Fr), Maximum Impact (GB). Scratched: Fandom (GB), Seven Questions (Ire), Two Tribes (GB).

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The rise & rise of Highfield Princess

Successful off a mark of 58 back in September 2020, she records a second G1 success with a devastating display in the @coolmorestud Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes for @johnquinnracing & @jasonhart13 @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/8tCHKwiqjD

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 19, 2022

“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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The Arizona Horse Racing Commission ruling, dated Feb. 8, said that Wooolley is “hereby suspended and denied access to all grounds under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Department of Racing pending a hearing before the Board of Stewards to answer charges of actions that call into question the best interests of racing, and the safety, welfare, economy, health and peace of the people of the state as well.”

A  hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 15, according to steward Jason Hart, who said he could not comment further on the matter including the specific reason Woolley was summarily suspended.

The ruling cites a number of alleged violations in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code, including sections listing “prohibited acts.”

Woolley's horses entered to race at Turf Paradise on Tuesday were all listed as being scratched by the stewards.  He has additional horses entered at the Phoenix track and at Sunland Park in New Mexico in upcoming days.

Reached by telephone, Woolley said he had no comment “at this time.”

Training since 1991, Woolley skyrocketed to fame in 2009 when Mine That Bird closed from last in a field of 19 to win the Kentucky Derby by 6 3/4 lengths over Pioneerof the Nile under Calvin Borel. The story of the Birdstone gelding with humble beginnings led to a 2014 movie, “50 to 1,” with Skeet Ulrich playing the part of Woolley.

Since 2009, when Woolley's stable earned in excess of $2 million thanks mostly to Mine That Bird, his best year was in 2021, when he saddled 28 winners from 280 starters for earnings of $617,950. Woolley has saddled three winners from 30 starters thus farm in 2022.

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The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

A son of Wootton Bassett (GB) out of the Dalakhani (IRE) mare Shaloushka (IRE), Royal Patronage (FR) reeled in joint favorite Coroebus (IRE) in the shadows of the post to win the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes by a neck.

Trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Jason Hart, Royal Patronage raced prominently in the early stages in the seven-horse field. Godolphin's Coroebus (IRE) took up the running at halfway and surged clear from the field under William Buick, before being run down and headed on the line by the eventual winner. The Donnacha O'Brien-trained Unconquerable (IRE), the 33-1 outsider of the field, finished 2 ½ lengths back in the third. Joint favorite Masekela (IRE) finished fourth.

Celebrating his fourth Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes victory, Johnston was delighted with the performance of his 2-year-old colt.

“I thought we were going to finish second even well inside the final furlong,” said Johnston. “At that stage, I was happy. He was running away from the chasing pack and I was thinking he's going to be a lovely horse for stepping up in trip next year. Jason [Hart] said the moment he hit the rising ground he was just gaining with every stride. He won well in the end.”

No immediate plans have been made for the exciting juvenile, but a tilt at next year's Group 1 Epsom Derby is under consideration.

Johnston added: “He looks like a Derby horse. It's great when you've got a horse who you're thinking might stay a mile and a half, but is showing so much speed early on as well. That's ideal.”

Royal Patronage (7/2) finished the mile in 1:38:06 over a course listed as good to firm. It was his third consecutive win after breaking his maiden in a novice stakes at Epsom Downs on July 29, and capturing the seven-furlong Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York Racecourse on Aug. 18 in his previous start.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Royal Patronage to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, which will be run at one mile over the turf course at Del Mar Thoroughbed Club in Del Mar, Calif. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

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“The Godolphin team were standing beside me watching the race and, with a furlong to go, they thought they'd won and I thought they'd won,” revealed Mark Johnston. “I was actually very happy with the run at that point as I could see he was starting to stay on away from the pack. I was thinking to next year and thinking 'this will be one for the Derby trials early' on. Jason [Hart] said he was a bit free early on, but as soon as he hit the rising ground he just found another gear. We had some doubts about stepping up to the mile early on as he has a lot of speed and we almost supplemented him for the [seven-furlong G2] Champagne S. at Doncaster. It literally went to the wire, deciding whether to supplement or not. We decided against it in the end, which we regretted after it broke up so much, but we were reasonably convinced that going further was going to be better. He certainly proved that today.”

Looking ahead, the trainer added, “I don't know if he will run in the [G1] Vertem Futurity Trophy [at Doncaster], but I'll speak to [Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's] Harry [Herbert] and see what he has to say. He looks like a Derby horse and it's great when you've got a horse who you're thinking might stay a mile-and-a-half. He is showing so much speed early on as well and that's ideal.”

Runner-up Coroebus looked to have gone beyond recall when displaying impressive acceleration on the front end inside the final quarter mile, but a lack of experience told on the climb to the line as Royal Patronage zeroed in on the perfect target. “It's always hard when you pass them all and then get passed again,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “We've been pleased with him at home, he's a beautiful-looking horse and he'll have learned plenty today. I think he's just got a bit lonely out in front there in the end. He only had one run under his belt and got picked up by a horse who has had plenty of racing now. Take nothing away from the winner, he'd won an Acomb and he's obviously a good horse.”

Royal Patronage, half to a weanling colt by Magna Grecia (Ire), is one of 14 group-race winners by his sire and the first of two foals out of a multiple-winning sibling of G1 Irish Derby third Shalapour (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and the dam of the dual stakes-winning Palm Springs {Ind}) (Placerville). Royal Patronage's third dam Shademah (Ire) (Thatch), herself kin to elite-level winners Shakapour (Ire) (Kalamoun {GB}) and Sharannpour (Ire) (Busted {GB}), produced G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Shahrastani (Nijinsky II) and the excellent producer Sharata (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). The latter is responsible for five stakes scorers including MGSW GII Garden City Breeders' Cup H. victrix Pharatta (Ire) (Fairy King), herself the second dam of G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 9-25, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:38.06, g/f.
1–ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Shaloushka (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Shalama (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Shademah (Ire), by Thatch
(62,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Woodland Walk); B-Emma Capon Bloodstock (FR); T-Mark Johnston; J-Jason Hart. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $165,815. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Coroebus (Ire), 126, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–First Victory (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £21,500.
3–Unconquerable (Ire), 126, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Rien Ne Vas Plus (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (210,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Atlantic Thoroughbreds; B-Rien Ne Vas Plus Syndicate (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. £10,760.
Margins: NK, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.50, 2.13, 33.00.
Also Ran: Masekela (Ire), Howth (Ire), Oneforthegutter (GB), Seattle King (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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