Sprinting sensation Highfield Princess has been retired after suffering an injury at John and Sean Quinn’s stable in Malton.
Highfield Princess won four times at the group 1 level, taking her owner/breeder John Fairley and his family around the globe to mix it with the fastest horses in the world. The hard-knocking Night of Thunder mare compiled earnings of $2,307,175 and scored in 14 of her 39 trips to the post.
A return trip to the royal meeting at Ascot this year was high on the agenda but having been found to be cast in her box March 12, Highfield Princess has been retired at the age of 7.
“I said to Sean on Monday, ‘She moved great this morning’ and then on Tuesday morning she got really badly cast,” said joint trainer John Quinn. “There were knocks and bumps on her and she was lame behind. We were very concerned at the time but she’s improved greatly.
“She needs two months’ rest so the game is up, but she’s been a great mare and will be fit to take up broodmare duties in the future.”
Among the many highlights for Quinn was Highfield Princess winning three group 1 races in three different countries in the space of 36 days in 2022, while trips to the United States and Hong Kong will live long in the memory.
“She’s been a mare of a lifetime,” he added. “She was unraced at 2 but showed some ability to suggest she’d win a race or two. She did well at 3 and then really blossomed at 4, winning at Royal Ascot and running well in stakes races.
“What she did at 5 was unbelievable, winning three group 1 races in 36 days and having to travel all over Europe was something else. She just kept improving.
“She wanted it, tried very hard, and was remarkably sound. Horses like her just don’t come along and I’m delighted that we had her.”
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