Victory in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York has ensured Highfield Princess has qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at the Breeders’ Cup meeting. The talented mare is set to take on the leading sprinters in the USA in the race at Keeneland in November.
The British runner has had an excellent season in Europe, with five victories going her way, including three at the highest level. Given the form she is in, that tally could extend before the campaign is over.
Highfield Princess is the +175 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. She is one of the popular selections in today’s racing tips for the world championship meet as she continues to look better with each start.
On her most recent outing, John Quinn’s mare prevailed in the Group One Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, beating 18 other runners. That brought up a hat-trick of wins over the summer, with success also coming in the Prix Maurice de Gheest along with her Nunthorpe triumph.
Golden Pal Looking to Defend His Crown
The highest-rated horse in the Longines World Rankings set to feature in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Spring is Golden Pal. Wesley Ward’s runner won the race in 2021 with an impressive performance.
Since that victory last November, the American sprinter has been successful in two of his three appearances. He prevailed in Grade Two Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland, while more recently, he added to his tally in the Grade Three Troy Stakes at Saratoga.
Golden Pal’s sole defeat in 2022 came at Royal Ascot where he blew his chances of victory at the start in the King’s Stand Stakes. He was slow out of the stalls, giving his rivals a big advantage.
When he scored in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2021, Golden Pal was a three-year-old. Big Invasion will be bidding to replicate what he achieved at that age when he takes part in the race this year. The son of Declaration Of War has won six of his eight contests this season to put himself in the mix along with the defending champion and Highfield Princess.
European Horses Have Struggled in Turf Sprint
Unlike the other turf races at the Breeders’ Cup Meeting, the European horses have not had much success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. It has been dominated by American horses since it was added to the schedule in 2008.
Glass Slippers is the only European horse to prevail so far. Kevin Ryan’s runner came out on top in 2020. The former Prix de l’Abbaye winner finished her race strongly to get up late on at Keeneland.
US trainer Peter Miller has had the most success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He was successful in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Stormy Liberal won back-to-back renewals in 2017 and 2018, while in 2019, Belvoir Bay was victorious at the age of six.
The 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint takes place on November 5 on what is the second day of the meeting at the Kentucky-based racecourse.