EARLIER in the year John Quinn sat down with John Fairley, his landlord and owner of Highfield Princess, to discuss the mare’s future.

Firstly, they reminisced about a fabulous 2022 where she was the gift that kept on giving, scoring three Group 1s in the autumn before running an excellent fourth at the Breeders’ Cup. Secondly, they wondered what could be in 2023.

It was always the long-term purpose to breed from her but so good has her progression been on the track, she has kept earning the right to prolong her career. The two Johns agreed that her appetite for racing seemed as good as ever and that she had a long year in 2022, with the view that starting later could benefit her.

So the decision was made to let her run in Duke Of York Stakes and, if she showed her sparkle, they could kick on. If not, then she could be retired to be covered.

Highfield Princess finished second at York, but it was probably one of the happiest feelings Quinn has had with one of his horses finishing second.

“Ah, I was so pleased,” he told The Irish Field this week. “She had done plenty of work but you could see in the last 50 yards, Michael Dods’ filly (Azure Blue), who is a good filly, had followed us through and she was race fit.

“We had a Group 1 penalty, so she was giving weight away to everything. It was a very good run and it has been all systems go since.”

The Tipperary native is no stranger to success at Royal Ascot with the likes of The Wow Signal, Signora Cabello and this mare, who won the Buckingham Palace Stakes over seven furlongs at the meeting two years ago.

She has since reinvented herself as a world class sprinter, remarkably taking the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs on soft ground last season before bounding clear in the Nunthorpe over five furlongs on good to firm ground. Not bad for a filly beaten off a mark of 57 as a three-year-old.

“She is great form,” Quinn said. “It’s just a question of getting her there now in these last few days but we are very happy with her. It’s going to be a very good race obviously - there is no place to hide at Ascot. You have Coolangatta who I’ve seen there has been plenty of money for this week and then Karl Burke’s filly (Dramatised) who won the Queen Mary last year and then did a very good time in the Temple Stakes.

“It is just great to have a mare as good as her. It would be great for any yard. She has come from absolutely nowhere so let’s hope she can keep the journey going.”