Highfield Princess 11/2 for Hong Kong Sprint success

Highfield Princess is 11/2 joint-second favourite in Coral’s Hong Kong Sprint betting odds in the opening show on next month’s Sha Tin Group One.  

The outstanding English sprinter, already a four-time Group One winner in three different countries, will bid to become the first visitor to land the Hong Kong Sprint since Japanese star Danon Smash won the blue riband speed test in 2020.

John Quinn’s mare will face a formidable challenge led by the world’s top-ranked sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, who is the 4/5 favourite in the Hong Kong Sprint betting odds after winning the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Last year’s Hong Kong Sprint winner Wellington (pictured below) is 11/2 for a repeat success while Highfield Princess will also be joined by Aidan O’Brien’s Aesop’s Fables, who finished a narrow third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita when last seen.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “Although Highfield Princess will be racing in Hong Kong for the first time, and the local stars Lucky Sweynesse and Wellington will provide stern opposition, she goes there following a brilliant victory in the Prix de l’Abbaye last month and could well give connections another memorable day.”

Other European runners in contention for the big Hong Kong meeting include Luxembourg, who is 5/1 second favourite in the Hong Kong Cup odds.