France: Longshot Highfield Princess takes Prix Maurice de Gheest

The 5-year-old mare Highfield Princess won her first Group 1 and led home a parade of longshots in the Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday at Deauville Racecourse in France.

Highfield Princess was a 16-1 shot on the North American tote, and with a pace-pressing trip under Jason Hart she proved three-quarters of a length best in this 6 1/2-furlong, straight-course fixture.

Three were bunched behind Highfield Princess, with 13-1 Minzaal up for second by a narrow margin over 19-1 Garrus, who nabbed third from 23-1 Rohaan. Naval Crown, the 7-2 second choice, turned in a mild run to finish fifth but was much better than 2-1 favorite Perfect Power.

Perfect Power, a top 2-year-old of 2021, started his 3-year-old campaign in good form and won the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but he was seventh in the July Cup last month and seventh again Sunday, showing little spark.

Highfield Princess, trained by John Quinn, was making the 28th start of her career. The mare is by Night of Thunder out of Pure Illusion, by Danehill, and connections made specific mention of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint this fall at Keeneland as a possible goal.