ON THE ROAD AGAIN
   Fresh from a win in last month's G3 Blue Wind S. at Naas, in which she defeated G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}) continued in the winning vein, and emulated her dam Irresistible Jewel, by capturing Royal Ascot's G2 Ribblesdale S. yesterday. Patiently ridden in rear for most of the 12-furlong contest, the 17-2 chance made relentless headway into second off the home turn and extended clear once taking over inside the final quarter mile to easily defeat Epsom placegetters The Fugue (GB) (Dansili) and Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) by six lengths and a short head, respectively. "Ascot has always been lucky for me and I thought Epsom might come a little too soon for a late-developing filly such as her," explained trainer Dermot Weld. "It's nice to come back and win the same race I won a number of years ago with her dam."

Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £125,000, Ascot, 6-21, 3yo, f, 1 1/2mT, 2:33.67, gd/sf.
1--PRINCESS HIGHWAY, 124, f, 3, by Street Cry (Ire)
1st Dam: Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (GSW-Eng & Ire, G1SP-Fr, $275,165), by Danehill
2nd Dam: In Anticipation (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Aptostar, by Fappiano
O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm; T-Dermot Weld; J-Pat Smullen; £77,092. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, £127,984. *1/2 to Mad About You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), GSW & MG1SP-Ire, G1SP-Fr, $520,993 Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2--The Fugue (GB), 124, f, 3, Dansili (GB)--Twyla Tharp (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O-Lord Lloyd-Webber; B-Watership Down Stud; T-John Gosden; £29,227.
3--Shirocco Star (GB), 124, f, 3, Shirocco (Ger)--Spectral Star (GB), by Unfuwain. (48,000gns RNA yrl '10 TATOCT). O-Helena Springfield Ltd; B-Meon Valley Stud; T-Hugh Morrison; £14,627.
Margins: 6, SHD, 3/4. Odds: 17-2, 5-2, 7-1.
Also Ran: Salford Art (Ire), Twirl (Ire), Vow (GB), Kailani (GB), Hazel Lavery (Ire), Inchina (GB), Colima (Ire), Pink Damsel (Ire), Momentary (GB), Chella Thriller (Spa), Dinvar Diva (GB).
Click for the Racing Post chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Princess Highway enjoyed a largely uneventful introduction, running eighth in a seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden, in her only juvenile outing last October. She hit the ground running when opening her sophomore campaign with a decisive victory in a 10-furlong heat back at the Foxrock venue Mar. 28, and continued her rapid rise through the ranks next time. That latest effort yielded an impressive win in the May 16 G3 Blue Wind S. at Naas, where she accounted for Aaraas (GB) (Haafhd {GB}) and subsequent G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Moyglare Stud's homebred bay, a daughter of 2002 Ribblesdale victress Irresistible Jewel, was steadied in rear from the outset. Easing into fifth on the home turn, she was sent in pursuit as Shirocco Star established a clear advantage off the home turn and, having taken over approaching the final furlong, surged clear to win with elan. "She has been a backward filly, but has progressed well during the Spring and beat the winner of the Epsom Oaks convincingly last time out," explained winning trainer Dermot Weld. "I thought this was a really excellent renewal, and I knew she would have to improve to win today, and she's gone and done it. I was concerned the ground would be a little bit slow for her, but they went a true pace and Pat [Smullen] wisely took his time on her. He rode a brilliant race as always." Weld's patient approach may yield further dividends and enable Princess Highway to better her dam's eighth place finish in this year's G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh July 22. "Missing Epsom gave us a little more time to come here and then go on for an Irish Oaks," Weld added. Said Smullen, "She's a beautiful mare to ride. She's uncomplicated, she travels, she quickens and has it all. Our only fear was that the ground had gone too soft. It wasn't that bad, but she still handled it extremely well." Runner-up The Fugue's chances were compromised by overnight rain, and the John Gosden incumbent will now point to the Aug. 23 G1 Yorkshire Oaks. "The winner is very smart, and we were beaten fair and square, but I'm disappointed it rained, because my filly is much better on good-to-firm ground," the trainer told PA Sport. "We'll freshen her up for the Yorkshire Oaks." Reflecting on the performance of Shirocco Star, who just failed to confirm Epsom form with The Fugue, trainer Hughie Morrison added, "We all had hard races in the Oaks, but she kept going and it was a brave performance. She is obviously one of the best fillies, and the Irish Oaks in four weeks' time would be the plan."