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| Sumita Pawar |
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John Quinn is assured that the ground conditions will not pose any difficulties for his mare Highfield Princess, who has already achieved three victories in Group One races. Highfield Princess will be striving to return to her winning form in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on Friday.
She has had a remarkable career, skillfully guided by North Yorkshire-based trainer Quinn. Starting as a 57-rated handicapper, she has worked her way up the ranks and achieved three impressive victories in top-class sprints last summer. Additionally, she narrowly missed out on a win at the Breeders' Cup in Keeneland.
After finishing as a half-length runner-up in her comeback race at York, she was swiftly entered into two races at Royal Ascot within four days. She came close to victory in the King's Stand and once again placed in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Now, she will be competing over a shorter distance, dropping back a furlong. Quinn is optimistic that she will seize this golden opportunity and make the most of it.
“We’re happy with her,” said the Malton-based trainer. “Who knows what the ground will be like on Friday, but the ground will be fine — she has won on soft ground before.
“She is in good form and we’re very hopeful. I’m not worried about the draw — it is other horses I worry about!
“You wouldn’t know where they’ll be racing come Friday, but straight line, she’ll be fine.”
In the upcoming race, Karl Burke will be saddling two horses. The first one is Silky Wilkie, who finished as the runner-up to Nymphadora in the City Walls race held in York.
Burke said, “It is a bit of a punt with Silky Wilkie. He has done nothing but surprise us and impress us all the way through his career, really.
“We never expected him to get to these heights, but he deserves his chance now in these black type races.
“It is certainly a big step up for him, but he won’t mind the ground, he’ll like the track and with the ground being so soft, it might not suit some of the others. The draw in stall seven is good.”
The second horse is White Lavender, who was also a runner-up in the Prix de l'Abbaye race at ParisLongchamp in October. White Lavender recently returned to France and won a Group Three race in May. However, in her last run at the Sapphire Stakes in the Curragh, she was a little too eager.
Burke added, “White Lavender is obviously a high-class sprinter and she’s proven herself in the Abbaye.
“She disappointed herself in Ireland, but she ended up making the running, which wasn’t the plan with her — she has to have a bit of cover and come late.
“Maybe I sent her to Ireland a bit too fresh and she took off with Chris Hayes, and she never finishes her races when she runs like that.
“You can put a line through that run. She seems in good form and she’ll love the ground.”
Charlie Hills Dominates with Battaash
On the other hand, Charlie Hills has had great success in this race over the past six seasons, winning it five times. Out of those wins, four were achieved with Battaash between 2017 and 2020, while the most recent victory came last season with Khaadem. This year, Hills will be saddling two horses. The first one is Equality, who is seeking a hat trick after winning the Coral Charge at Sandown in the previous race.
The second horse is Equilateral, who finished fifth in the prestigious Group One King's Stand race at Royal Ascot, where Bradsell emerged as the winner.
In the Coral Charge race at Sandown, Makarova finished one and a half lengths behind Equality. Ed Walker, the trainer whose horses are currently in excellent form, believes that the 4YO filly, Makarova, has great potential now that she is getting used to running over shorter distances. Makarova is the daughter of the stallion Acclamation and is expected to showcase her abilities in the upcoming race.
He said, “I’m actually super-excited about this race — she is bouncing. Since dropping back to five (furlongs) she has improved. She is really learning to be a five-furlong sprinter now.
“Last time she really jumped and travelled, where in her previous couple of runs over five, she had slightly been outpaced.
“Prior to Sandown, I would have been a bit worried that this race might have had a bit too much early speed for her, but I think she showed at Sandown she’s got bags of boot.
“She won’t mind the ground at all, but drawn in four isn’t great. That won’t help. It is not ideal.”