Day Two of the Irish Champions Weekend features two more Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win and You’re In’ race, when Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Highfield Princess heads a big field of 19 as she heads for as G1 hat-trick in the Flying Five.
Sponsored by Dubai’s Al Basti Equiworld, the sprint is the first of four successive G1 races at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Flying Five offers a guaranteed fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on November 5; the Moyglare Stud Stakes is also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, linked to the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.
Trained by John Quinn, the five-year-old Highfield Princess has been a revelation this term, having won the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville before her triumph at the Ebor meeting.
Effective at seven furlongs, the mare had no trouble tracking the rapid pace set by a really speedy rival at York and her 2 ½-length was one of Europe’s outstanding sprint performances of the year. The Nunthorpe was also a ‘Win And You’re In’ contest, and connections already have their sights set firmly on the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Rivals at the Curragh include Romantic Proposal, who last year accounted for a similarly strong field headed by A Case Of You and the 2020 Breeders’ Cup winner Glass Slippers, both of whom went on to run at Del Mar. Dragon Symbol (fourth), Gustavus Weston and Mooneista were among those a little further behind.
The Moyglare Stud Stakes for two-year-old fillies has attracted an outstanding field, headed by Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Meditate, whose four wins include two G3s and a G2, the latest of them an all-the-way win over course and distance. O’Brien is a nine-time winner of the race, including with Minding and Love, who were recent winners of both the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks.
The other G1 events on the second day of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend are the Vncent O’Brien National Stakes and the Irish St Leger.
Key contenders
Highfield Princess (John Quinn/Jason Hart) – fabulous mare who started off at a low level and has done nothing but improve; enjoyed Royal Ascot success at 7f last year and has been successful four more times in 2022, most recently beating last weekend’s Haydock Sprint Cup winner Minzaal in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and the ultra speedy 2yo The Platinum Queen in Nunthorpe.
Romantic Proposal (Eddie Lynam/Chris Hayes) – registered a clear career-best when coming from behind to win here a year ago; easy winner in Listed company on reappearance, but has run only once since, when down the field in July Cup at Newmarket.
A Case Of You (Ado McGuinness/Ronan Whelan) – close second here a year ago and has since gained G1 wins in Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp and Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan; not at his best at Royal Ascot last time but likely to be a different proposition this autumn.
Dragon Symbol (Roger Varian/Shane Foley) – finished ahead of Wesley Ward-trained Campanelle on heavy ground in the G1 Commonwealth Cup in 2021 but placings were controversially reversed by the stewards; back in winner’s enclosure for new trainer in minor event at Hamilton, then far from disgraced in fifth in the Nunthorpe; soft ground a big plus.
Shall we talk about it?
Eddie Lynam, trainer of Romantic Proposal:“She’s had plenty of setbacks, all respiratory, but she seems okay now. She missed races like the King’s Stand and the Nunthorpe with dirty scopes and coughing. The hot weather affected her more than most.”
Ado McGuinness, trainer of A Case Of You:“He wasn’t right at Royal Ascot. We did a few tests on him and he was recovering from a virus after it – he’s fine now and looks a million dollars. The fact he hasn’t run since Ascot doesn’t concern me. He'll go straight to Longchamp next then off to the Breeders' Cup – we think Keeneland will really suit him."
Roger Varian, trainer of Dragon Symbol: “He got the win he deserved at Hamilton, finding an impressive turn of foot to quicken away from his counterparts. He’ll gain confidence as he progresses through the rest of this season.”
Jack Davison, trainer of Mooneista:“She's been unlucky this year but the Flying Five would make up for it. It’s all about the autumn with her because she's that much better with softer conditions.”
Graham Dench’s verdict
If Highfield Princess runs to the same level as at York last time she’ll take the world of beating, but this race wasn’t initially on her agenda and her best form is on significantly quicker ground. If either the conditions or her busy programme find her out this is very much up for grabs, with A Case Of You and Mooneista high on the shortlist. However, DRAGON SYMBOL is preferred at what should be decent odds. His stable is in excellent form and he’ll enjoy the ground.
• Visit the Breeders' Cup website
Charles Hayward: Win and you’re in – why Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a success story
World’s oldest Classic: Sheikh Mohammed’s St Leger winners ranked
The new Secretariat? Flightline earns extraordinary Beyer figure of 126 for Pacific Classic romp
Class and value: why Irish yearling auctions are an attractive option – year after year
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires