I WAS fortunate to be present at ParisLongchamp last year and experience a taste of the joy enjoyed by owner-breeders John and Kitty Fairley, together with extended family members and close friends, when Highfield Princess swooped to win the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, her fourth success at the highest level.

Now, I can only imagine the pain they are suffering following the news that their wonderful mare, whom they chose to race on rather than go to stud with this year, has died. Clearly a mare who loved her racing, she was an absolute treasure for the Fairley family, trainer John Quinn, and all who cared so lovingly for her. She raced 39 times and was in the first three on 28 occasions, taking her winnings north of €2.17 million. After her last win, she ran sixth in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint.