Highfield Princess Crushes Competition at the Curragh

An already remarkable rise to stardom for Highfield Princess  became yet more extraordinary Sept. 11 in the Al Basti Equiworld Flying Five Stakes (G1), as the sensational mare pulverized her Curragh rivals to complete an unprecedented treble of international group 1 sprints in just five weeks.

Trainer John Quinn hailed the star 5-year-old as "one of the best sprinting fillies in the world" after his phenomenal improver became the first horse to win Sunday's Dubai-backed prize, the Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1), and the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) in the same season.

Sent off the 5-4 favorite, Highfield Princess would not have provided her supporters with many moments of doubt through the fast and furious €400,000 race, traveling with considerable enthusiasm under regular rider Jason Hart.

This 19-runner group 1 was effectively done and dusted just inside the final furlong as she powered home to finish 3 1/2 lengths clear of Erosandpsyche , trained by Paddy Twomey, and Flotus , representing Simon and Ed Crisford.

"She's a phenomenal filly," said Tipperary native Quinn, who reveled in his first group 1 success on home soil.

"Someone said to me the day before yesterday that she's probably the best filly in Europe. I never said anything, as in racing you let the horse do the talking, but to win three group 1s in France, England, and wonderful Ireland is unbelievable. In a short time, too."

Hart, who registered his first top-level strike aboard the same mare at Deauville last month, believes the 12-time winner felt better than ever before on the 30th start of her career.

"I knew coming into the last two furlongs that she was giving me some feel—that's the best feeling she's actually given me all year," said Hart.

"She's gone from strength to strength. Three group 1s on the bounce takes a bit of doing in relatively quick succession as well. The boss, (her groom Satrijeet) Jhingree, and all the lads at home have done a marvelous job of keeping her at the top of her game."

Owner John Fairely, landlord to the winning trainer, is enjoying the journey of a lifetime with his Night of Thunder  mare, who less than two years ago recorded her first victory off a mark of 58 in a handicap worth just £5,593 at Ayr.

Victory on Longines Irish Champions Weekend means Highfield Princess has joined the likes of Dayjur, Black Caviar , Blue Point , and Muhaarar  as the winner of three consecutive group 1 sprints.

A tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) is now firmly on the agenda, and Hart is excited at the prospect of locking horns with U.S. ace Golden Pal . The Sept. 11 win in the Flying Five grants Highfield Princess an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) held Championship weekend, Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland Racecourse.

He 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."

Quinn added: "If she's okay, that will be the plan. In the spring she was working well, and I said to Sean (Quinn, assistant trainer) that I'd love to see her go around Keeneland—two bends over five and a half furlongs could suit her. She won't go to France for the Abbaye. God almighty, she's been everywhere."