Tag: Night of Thunder (Ire)

Breeders’ Cup Next For Flying Five Winner Highfield Princess

Not content with conquering Group 1s in France, Britain and now Ireland, John Quinn nominated the Breeders' Cup as the most likely destination for Highfield Princess after his superstar sprinter scorched to Flying Five S. glory under Jason Hart at the Curragh on Sunday.

Quinn, a native of Tipperary who trains in England, described Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) as the best he's trained in the build-up to Irish Champions Weekend and boy was he vindicated by such a statement.

The phenomenal improver travelled into the race with rare ease before powering clear of a Erosandpsyche (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) to provide Quinn with a breakthrough Group 1 on home soil. 

“She's an unbelievable filly,” he said, almost gobsmacked afterwards. “John (Fairley, owner) bought her dam in foal. We didn't run her at two. We thought she'd win a race or two. All she's done is improve. She's phenomenal, really.”

Quinn added, “She's by a very good sire. Her dam is well-bred and she's a good back pedigree. I think not racing her at two probably helped her and the rest is down to the wonderful staff and the filly.

“Her next run will be in the Breeders' Cup. Two turns around Keeneland could really suit her so hopefully we can get her there.”

Highfield Princess became the third British-trained winner of the race since 2018 and completed a sensational trio of Group 1 triumphs following her success in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and Nunthorpe S.

The 5-year-old's rise through the ranks in the colours of Fairely, landlord to the winning trainer, is one of the stories of the season, given it was less than two years ago when she recorded her first victory off a mark of 58 in a handicap worth just £5,593 at Ayr.

Quinn's ace sprinter could lock horns with Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and her regular rider is excited by the challenge.

Hart said, “It would be nice to go and take on Golden Pal and see how we get on over there. She's well on track to do it. She's just spectacular, really.”

The ninth foal out of Pure Illusion (Ire) (Danehill), Highfield Princess is a half-sister to the seven-time winner Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}) as well as three other winners.

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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 Mauiewowie Edges Curragh Thriller

Eleanora Kennedy's 2-year-old filly Mauiewowie (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–La Chapelle {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) made it two wins from three starts, and a career high, when annexing Saturday's Listed Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Curragh S. over five furlongs. In a strong renewal, the 7-4 favourite prevailed by a short head from familiar rival Treasure Trove (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), with Listed Prix La Fleche runner-up Funny Money Honey (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) a further 2 1/2 lengths adrift in third.

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
QATAR RACING & EQUESTRIAN CLUB CURRAGH S.-Listed, €37,500, Curragh, 8-13, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.48, gd.
1–MAUIEWOWIE (GB), 126, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: La Chapelle (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
2nd Dam: Nightime (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (52,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 155,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Eleanora Kennedy; B-Trebles Holford Farm Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €22,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $42,254.
2–Treasure Trove (Ire), 126, f, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Pichola Dance (Ire), by Distorted Humor. O/B-Merry Fox Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. €7,500.
3–Funny Money Honey (Ire), 126, f, 2, Bungle Inthejungle (GB)–Jackie Sparrow (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). (€11,500 Ylg '21 GOAUTY). O-Mrs Theresa Marnane; B-Mark Burns (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €3,750.
Margins: SHD, 2HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.75, 4.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Wave Machine (Fr), Harry Time (Ire), Badb (Ire), Kodi Red (Ire).

Mauiewowie, successful going five furlongs at Naas in her July 2 unveiling, ran second back over the same trip in that track's July 20 Listed Marwell S. last time and made the leap forward with a career high in this straight dash. Positioned behind the pace in a handy third after an alert getaway, she loomed large on the bridle when joining the front rank with a quarter mile remaining and was driven out inside the final furlong to outbob Marwell third Treasure Trove on the line in a thrilling conclusion.

“She's a lovely filly and a filly we always liked,” said trainer Ger Lyons. “We have a load of backward 2-year-olds at home and she's the one that has always been precocious. She's by Night Of Thunder, one of my favourites if not my favourite sire, and Kris Weld just told me that she's a granddaughter of Nightime, so she has the pedigree. I was very worried about today's ground, but they've done a marvellous job. We'll see how she comes out of it, we won't rush her and we'll let her come along. She'll come into her own over six furlongs with a little bit of juice [in the ground]. We have loads of options now, including the [Listed] Blenheim over six furlongs [at Fairyhouse], but I'll let her grow up because she's a work-in-progress. She'll be a lovely horse for next year. [Owner] Eleanora [Kennedy] is the lucky charm, she's a very lucky owner and I think that's her 10th or 11th winner since she joined me. That just doesn't happen.”

Mauiewowie, who becomes the 32nd stakes winner for her sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), is the seventh of eight foals and one of four scorers out of a half-sister to multiple elite-level winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Man O' War S. heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The March-foaled chestnut's dam La Chapelle (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), herself a daughter of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), has also thrown the dual stakes-placed Something Enticing (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Expert Eye (GB). Nightime is the leading performer for Listed Platinum S. victrix Caumshinaun (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), with the latter being the second dam of GII American Jockey Club Cup and G2 Meguro Kinen victor King Of Koji (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and G3 Prix Cleopatre victrix Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

 

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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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