York's Nunthorpe Stakes: Highfield Princess Confronts Tough Field Of 16 Runners
Defending champion Highfield Princess will face tough competition in the upcoming Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday, as a total of 16 runners have been declared for the race.
Trained by John Quinn, Highfield Princess had an outstanding season last year, winning this race as part of a remarkable Group One treble. While she may not have reached the same heights this year, she has still performed admirably and showed her top form by winning at Goodwood earlier this month.
Among the competitors she will face are the two horses that defeated her at Ascot: Bradsell, the King's Stand champion trained by Archie Watson, and Khaadem, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner trained by Charlie Hills.
In what will be his final Nunthorpe, jockey Frankie Dettori will ride Twilight Calls, a 5YO trained by Henry Candy. Twilight Calls aims to follow in the footsteps of his grandsire Kyllachy and win this prestigious sprinting prize, after an unlucky run at the Royal meeting.
Ascot Gold Cup Hero Faces Stiff Competition
Ed Bethell's Regional, a horse that has previously won at this course and distance, could secure the biggest win of his career by completing a hat-trick in this highly competitive event. Mick Appleby's 2YO Big Evs has been added to the race at a cost of US$50,851.80 adding further excitement to the mix.
In another notable race, the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami leads the seven declared runners. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, this 4YO emerged as the new star of the staying division at Royal Ascot but suffered his first defeat at Goodwood Cup, finishing behind runaway winner Quickthorn. Trainer Hughie Morrison will be hoping for a repeat of last year's bold front-running tactics that led to victory.
Other contenders in the Lonsdale Cup Stakes include Giavellotto, trained by Marco Botti, who returns to the scene of his previous victory in the Yorkshire Cup, and Coltrane, an ultra-consistent performer trained by Andrew Balding.
In the day's feature 2YO race, the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes, ten horses will compete, with Kylian, trained by Karl Burke, being the favorite to secure Burke's first victory in this race. Notable contenders in this Group Two contest include Haatem, the winner of the Vintage Stakes trained by Richard Hannon, Action Point trained by Archie Watson, and Johannes Brahms, the Windsor Castle runner-up trained by Ballydoyle.
