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| Staff Writer |
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John Quinn has confirmed that Highfield Princess will not be participating in the Breeders' Cup. Instead, the horse will be focusing on a run in the Hong Kong Sprint, scheduled for December.
Last season, the popular mare achieved three wins at Group One level, which included the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Nunthorpe, and the Flying Five Stakes. She then finished her campaign with a commendable fourth place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November.
Although she lost in her first three starts this season, she managed to secure the runner-up spot behind the Breeders' Cup-bound Live In The Dream when defending her Nunthorpe crown in August. Most recently, she added to her top-level wins in the Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp just two weeks ago.
Her connections initially considered a possible second attempt at Breeders' Cup glory. However, Highfield Princess is now being prepared for her first assignment in the Far East.
“All being well, we’re going to go to Hong Kong with her,” said Quinn.
“It gives the mare a bit longer, which is probably the main thing. It’s six furlongs in Hong Kong and the ground can be rattling hard in America – at Santa Anita it can be like the road. We just thought all in all we’d plump for Hong Kong.
“She’s come out of the Abbaye well, she’s in great nick so we’re happy. We just want to keep her in good form and have her in good nick and we’ll give it a twirl.”