John Quinn’s star mare Highfield Princess will remain in training this season.
The John Quinn-trained seven-year-old began life off a basement rating of 57 back in August 2020 but has shown a remarkable progression in recent seasons and subsequently finds herself a staggering 60lb higher with an official mark of 117.
2022 saw Quinn's mare complete a memorable Group 1 hat-trick with victories in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, Nunthorpe and Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. A trip to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint would follow and Highfield Princess would once again emerge with immense credit back in fourth.
Connections decided to keep their daughter of Night Of Thunder in training last season and they were duly rewarded as she added a fourth top-level success with a hard-fought triumph in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc Day. Highfield Princess also placed twice in the same week at Royal Ascot and blitzed her rivals to a ready three-length victory in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in August.
Once again connections opted to take the bold path on the back of her Longchamp success and although she could only finish sixth on her most recent outing in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December, Highfield Princess lost little in defeat after being posted wide throughout against some of the best sprinters on the world racing scene.
A breeding career could have beckoned for Quinn's star mare, but owner John Fairley has once more sportingly opted to bring Highfield Princess for another season on the track.
Speaking with the PA News Agency, trainer John Quinn revealed the news.
Quinn said: "Highfield Princess is going to stay in training this year and I'm delighted,"
"She retained her enthusiasm all year (last year) and keeps doing it. She won another Group 1, was placed in three Group 1 and won a Group 2, so it's not as if she had one outstanding run and four or five runs below par.
"She had one disappointing run in the Curragh when she slipped, apart from that she was second in the Duke of York, placed twice at Royal Ascot, fantastic at Glorious Goodwood, second in the Nunthorpe and put up a tremendous performance in the Abbaye.
"She ran creditably in Hong Kong from a wide draw and the owners have decided they'd like to race her again this year, which is great."
Quinn confirmed Highfield Princess will be back in training at the Malton-based yard on February 1st and the trainer has already earmarked the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper
Stakes in May, in which she finished runner-up in on her reappearance last season, as a likely starting point.
He added: "She's having a break now and will be back in (training) on February 1.
"I think she'll kick off in the Duke of York again. It might be cold and snowy this morning, but it will soon come round, and then we'll aim for Royal Ascot."
