Princess perfect for Royal Ascot date, says Quinn
She’s in grand nick and has come out of York fine. She will go to the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot next, all being well.
John Quinn
HIGHFIELD Princess is fully on course for the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot following her good return to action at York.
John Quinn’s stable star gave best to the match-fit Azure Blue in the 1895 Duke of York Stakes, but nevertheless ran a fine race to finish second, beaten only half a length.
It is a result that gives hope the sixyear-old can replicate the blistering form she showed last season when she entered the winner’s enclosure on five occasions, picking up a hattrick of Group One contests in the process.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder has shown her versatility over the years and although returning over six furlongs on the Knavesmire, she will drop back to the stiff five furlongs of the King’s Stand when appearing at the Royal meeting next month.
“She’s in grand nick and has come out of York fine,” said Quinn.
“She will go to the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot next, all being well.”
It is 20 years since Aussie speedball Choisir did the King’s Stand/ Jubilee Stakes double, but although holding entries for both sprinting Group Ones at the showpiece fixture, Quinn is unsure if his flying mare will attempt to become just the second horse along with Blue Point to achieve that rare feat since.
“I don’t know,” he continued. “She’s in both races and we’ll jump the first hurdle and she will be in the other race if we so decided. Tuesday is the aim.”
Meanwhile, Mystical Power, the first foal of Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power by superstar sire Galileo, made the perfect start to his career at Ballinrobe.
Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 2-5, he justified favouritism with the minimum of fuss despite perhaps lacking the fireworks that many expected. Racing in the colours of JP Mcmanus, the four-year-old is owned in a partnership along with Mrs John Magnier and Mrs Susannah Ricci, the latter also owned Annie Power.
Trained by Willie Mullins, just like Annie Power, Patrick Mullins had to get serious in the closing stages before Mystical Power pulled clear to beat Perfect Nelson by two and three-quarter lengths.
Patrick Mullins said: “I’m happy with that.”