It would not be a top-class sprint without the likeable Highfield Princess on the racecard and the John Quinn-trained mare bids to gain a group 1 reward for her consistency through a busy season in the Oct. 1 Prix de ‘l Abbaye (G1).
She was placed in the two all-age group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot in the space of four days, won the King George Stakes (G2) at Glorious Goodwood and went close in the Nunthorpe (G1), and now she heads to France in search of a first top-level win of the campaign.
She won three of them last season but did not contest the Abbaye as Quinn opted instead for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), where she finished a respectable fourth.
He hopes her class will prevail this time. “We’re happy with her, she’s absolutely fine,” he said. “It’s a good Group 1 with plenty of runners and contenders but she’s in good form and I hope we get some luck. She’s traveled over well and I think she’s got every chance.”
The winner of the Abbaye will receive an all-expenses paid berth to the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.
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Lightning Fancied to Strike
A gelding operation transformed Rogue Lightning from a moderate handicapper to one of Britain’s most exciting sprinting prospects and the Tom Clover-trained 3-year-old faces his biggest test yet in group 1 company.
Having finished ninth on his first British start of the season, he was gelded in May before coming back to win handicaps at Doncaster and Ascot impressively and then stepped up smoothly to Listed level in the Scarbrough Stakes. He tackles top-level company for the first time and will also have to overcome the widest berth in stall 19.
Clover said: “He’s been very progressive since he was gelded and dropped to five furlongs. He’s a sprinter in form and it should be decent ground, which I hope will help negate the difficult draw. I’d rather not be in stall 19 but it’s not impossible.”
Frankie Finale in Prix de la Foret
Frankie Dettori bids to sign off at Longchamp on a high aboard Kinross , whose connections are unfazed by the prospect of contrasting conditions in the Prix de la Foret (G1) after he triumphed in the mud last season.
The jockey, who is retiring at the end of the season, will attempt to provide Britain with an eighth successive success in the race since 2015.
Dettori said: “Longchamp is my second favorite racecourse after Ascot and I’ll have to bring my French tack home with me after riding in the Foret.”
Kinross has had a similar autumn campaign to last year with victories in the Lennox (G2) and City of York Stakes (G2) but will be fresher this time having not run in the Park Stakes (G2) at Doncaster.
His trainer Ralph Beckett said: “He’s back to seven furlongs and is in good form. The preparation for this has gone well since York and the ground looks like it will suit.”
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