Friday’s highlight at York was the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes and it had a somewhat open feel it to with many viewing the favourite, Royal Aclaim, as opposable given the fact she’d yet to run in Group company.
And so it proved, as one of the country’s most likeable horses, Highfield Princess, scooted clear. Less than two years ago, she was winning a handicap off a mark of just 58, but John Quinn’s mare has improved hand over fist advancing through the grades in impressive fashion.
She’d won the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest on her previous start, but that came over 1200m and many doubted her ability back over 1000m. However, she put those fears to bed with a dominant two-and-a-half-length victory and it was made all the sweeter by the fact that she’s trained just 20 miles away from York.
It wasn’t a hard decision to award her the World Pool Moment of the Day, and her groom Ghingree, who has been working with Quinn for 15 years, was understandably made up with the award.
“It’s a very good day for all the staff in the yard, the trainer, the jockey. I’m speechless!” he said. “It’s a very big surprise. I wasn’t expecting to get the £1,000 from the World Pool.”
Ghingree, groom of Highfield Princess, lost for words with Nick Luck after picking up his World Pool Moment of the Day prize.