Royal Ascot: Highfield Princess and Manaccan ready to take on world's best sprinters in King's Stand Stakes
Highfield Princess and Manaccan set to take on Australian star Coolangatta and US raider Cannonball in Group One King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 20; watch every race from Royal Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing
Tuesday 13 June 2023 15:02, UK
Trainers John Quinn and John Ryan insist their King’s Stand contenders are ready to take on the very best sprinters in the world at Royal Ascot.
Quinn's Highfield Princess and Ryan's Manaccan look set to feature in a star-studded field, which includes Australian filly Coolangatta and US raider Cannonball.
Highfield Princess is the early 5/2 favourite after a pleasing return in the Listed 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes at York last month.
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The six-year-old will step back to five furlongs before a possible return later in the week for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
"I was very pleased with her at York because you never know from year to year," Quinn told Sky Sports Racing. "She showed great enthusiasm and great will for racing but just got outrun in the last 50 yards by a fitter animal on the day.
"She doesn't blow you away at home but she's well in herself and fit. We're looking forward to next week.
"She's very versatile and very tough. We'd love to run her in the King's Stand but she's also in later in the week. We'll jump Tuesday's hurdle first and then if she wins or runs well we'll consider the Saturday if she's okay."
Asked about the strength of the potential opposition, Quinn added: "I greatly respect the field. You have horses coming from all over the world which is fantastic.
"It's the biggest and best flat meeting in the world so people are going to send their very best horses.
"They say the Australian filly Coolangatta is very good and she looks it. There's a lot of very decent horses in the field but our girl has run well there twice so we're looking forward to it."
'Manaccan has earned the right to compete'
While Quinn is no stranger to top level success, victory for Manaccan would mean a first Group One title for Newmarket-based Ryan.
His stable star, who runs in the colours of Newsells Park Stud for former Tottenham star Ossie Ardiles' syndicate, found conditions against him in the Group Three Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance.
"He's always been a very professional horse to deal with and as a full horse you always worry they might bubble over but he never has done," Ryan told Sky Sports Racing.
"Even the other day at the Palace House Stakes when the ground went against him and Frankie had to come all the way across the track, he battled all the way to the line. He wears his heart on his sleeve and tries his best for you.
"He's been versatile as well and can perform on different ground but you'd imagine on the first day of Royal Ascot they'll have it as best they can."
Manaccan also boasts plenty of strong Ascot form, having finished a close fifth in last year's Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes before returning to win twice at the track later in the season.
"For a small team like ourselves it is a big day," Ryan added. "You don't get too many chances to have a crack at a Group One. He's earned the right to be there.
"Graham Smith-Bernal [owner of Newsells Park Stud] has supported me all the way through and allowed us to take this chance.
"He's a young pretender when it comes to the race. There's a few in there with some more miles on the clock and more experience but everything our lad has done has stepped him up to take a race like this on.
"He has excellent form at Ascot and that can sometimes be an extra bit of armour for us. At this moment, we're very happy with where we are and hopefully he'll do us proud."
