Prix de l'Abbaye: Highfield Princess defies wide draw to claim Group One glory under Jason Hart in Paris
Highfield Princess (2/1 favourite) overcomes draw in stall 14 to win the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp, beating Perdika, Aesop's Fables and Get Ahead; trainer John Quinn to 'strongly suggest' Breeders' Cup trip next
Sunday 1 October 2023 17:13, UK
Highfield Princess defied doubts over the difficulty of her wide draw and toughed it out to win the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp.
Starting in a typically unfavourable stall 14 - just three of the last 14 winners had come from a double-figure stall - John Quinn's star mare (2/1 favourite) got away well but rider Jason Hart was quickly working hard to keep the six-year-old up to the task.
George Boughey's Perdika (28/1) looked to be in the prime position, out front from stall one under Mickael Barzalona.
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Fellow British raider White Lavender was still in contention in the final 200m of the five-furlong sprint, but Highfield Princess had a clear run at the leaders.
With Perdika looking a little weary along the rail, Hart delivered Highfield Princess with a final lunge to the line to claim her fourth Group One title.
Perdika clung on for second ahead of Aidan O'Brien's Aesop's Fables and the Clive Cox-trained Get Ahead in fourth.
Quinn told Sky Sports Racing: "She's produced once again and, as you saw, it was a remarkably tough performance. Jason never had a minute's peace. I've always wanted a winner here and I'm absolutely thrilled.
"She's a mare in good form at the right time of year. I'll be strongly suggesting to Mr [John] Fairley that we think about it [the Breeders' Cup]."
