James Tate has warned that Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) red-hot favorite Royal Aclaim could still have plenty of progression to come as she bids to maintain her unbeaten record and give her trainer a "special" breakthrough group 1 success Aug. 19.
The 3-year-old filly maintained her perfect record with a stunning display in the listed John Smiths City Walls Stakes over course-and-distance last month that saw her shoot to Nunthorpe favoritism, having beaten a field including last year's winner Winter Power eased down.
Having grown up just 10 miles from the Knavesmire in Tadcaster, Tate admitted it would be extra special to win a first top-level race at his home track with his stable star.
She attempts to join an elite group of fillies to win the Nunthorpe, including Marsha, Mecca's Angel, Ortensia, Lochsong, and Lyric Fantasy, while six of the last 10 runnings have been won by fillies or mares.
"I grew up near Tadcaster and I've seen many a Nunthorpe in my time. The first one I saw was Dayjur winning but I also remember great fillies like Lyric Fantasy, too," he said.
"It would absolutely mean the world to get that group 1 win, especially with her, we can't pretend otherwise. Fillies are often quick and a high number have won the Nunthorpe or run really well in it. She certainly has the speed to win, and I really hope she can join that illustrious roll of honor."
Tate missed the King George Qatar Stakes (G2) at Glorious Goodwood with the daughter of Aclaim to head straight to the Nunthorpe, and he believes her assignment could also be just the start of Royal Aclaim's career at the highest level.
He added: "Everything's gone very well so far. She's had a great prep and we're all excited. To be unbeaten after three starts and already be rated 108 is remarkable, and she looks like she has more improvement to come."
Platinum Bids to be Queen of York
Connections of The Platinum Queen insist it is worth having a crack at all-aged group 1 company with their star juvenile as she attempts to become only the second 2-year-old to win the Nunthorpe this century.
Kingsgate Native was the last 2-year-old to beat the elders in 2007, while Acapulco was runner-up in 2015.
Although a juvenile Nunthorpe winner is a rarity, trainer Richard Fahey is unfazed by the task awaiting the speedy daughter of Cotai Glory, who broke the juvenile course record over five furlongs at Glorious Goodwood on her latest start.
Fahey said: "You don't often see 2-year-olds in this race, but she is a big strong filly—not pony-sized by any means. She looked good when winning at Goodwood and gets all the allowances, so it's well worth having a go."
After connections stumped up £40,000 to supplement The Platinum Queen last Saturday, she is set to race with the feather weight of 8st 2lb, with Hollie Doyle taking over in the saddle from regular partner Oisin Orr.
"I am delighted to see that she is quite a short price in the betting after we supplemented her. It would not have looked a good move if she was a 20-1 shot for this," Fahey said.
Highfield Princess Aiming for Group 1 Double Delight
Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) winner Highfield Princess had to wait to be given the last-minute approval for the race on Wednesday, but her connections are confident her Deauville heroics will not have left their mark.
The 5-year-old, who broke her maiden off a mark of :58 at Ayr in September 2020, has enjoyed a remarkable rise through the ranks, which has included a Royal Ascot success and victory in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (G2) before her first top-level win earlier this month under Jason Hart.
Although the Nunthorpe comes only 12 days after Deauville, Sean Quinn, assistant to Highfield Princess' trainer to John Quinn, believes she has come out of the race in tip-top shape as she attempts a quickfire group 1 double.
"She's absolutely fine," he said. "We just wanted to wait until as late as possible to make sure we were really happy that Deauville hadn't left a mark on her, but it hasn't looked like it.
"She's in great form and has cracking course form too, which is always a plus."
Highfield Princess has yet to win over five furlongs, with her Maurice de Gheest triumph coming over 6 1/2 furlongs and 1895 Duke of York win over six furlongs, but Quinn thinks the minimum trip should pose no issues.
"We need to see if she handles it against the best five-furlong sprinters in the country, especially as her previous races here were over six and seven furlongs, but we feel she should handle the test," Quinn said.
