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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