'These horses are hard to come by' - Jm Jungle gains Group-race breakthrough in King George for the Quinns

Jm Jungle's success in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes succinctly highlighted the chaotic nature of the sprint division in Britain right now, but that should not detract in the slightest from a speedster who never fails to stand up and be counted.

He has now finished outside the first three only once in his last ten starts, including big-field wins in handicaps at York and Epsom, but his latest victory marked a career highlight and a first strike at his first attempt in Group company.

And the best could still be to come according to winning connections, who fancy a tilt at the Group 1 Coolmore-backed Nunthorpe Stakes next at a track where Jm Jungle has regularly excelled.

"Sometimes certain races in the sprint division can be winnable and this looked one," said Sean Quinn, who trains the winner in Malton alongside his father John. "When the rain came yesterday it looked like it might inconvenience some, whereas this horse always turns up.

"If you don't put your hat in the ring, you've no chance, so we said we'd give it a go. He's much stronger this year and looked so calm before the race that I knew he was going to run his race again."

Alertly away from the lowest draw, Jm Jungle was soon in the vanguard of the far-side group, taking a clear lead heading into the final furlong and then refusing to be passed as challengers came at him from all angles.

"They went lickety-split and Jm Jungle loves that," said Quinn. "Earlier in the season Jason Hart said the race he'd love to ride him in was the Nunthorpe, simply because of how fast they go and how much he likes York. It looks the natural next step because he's a Group 2 winner now and you want to be going up from there.

"We put him in the Abbaye earlier this week and that's a similar race. If you get a good draw up against the rail, with his speed he'd be in the van early doors."

The winning rider said he felt embarrassed for celebrating like he'd just scored the winner at Wembley after crossing the line with a neck to spare over She's Quality, but in reality it did nothing more than highlight how hard the big races are to come by for the majority in the weighing room.

Jm Jungle and Jason Hart after the King George StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"I maybe went a bit mad after the line but when you have a horse like Highfield Princess and then she goes, it's hard to try to find the next one," said Hart. "But the Quinns have proved time and time again that no matter what type of horse they have, they're well able to train them and, when they target a race, you'd better take note."

Highfield Princess, who tragically died last year aged seven, took the King George for the Quinns and Hart in 2023 and her big-race wins also included four at the highest level. Little surprise, then, that she was also in the thoughts of Quinn jnr after Jm Jungle had followed in her hoofprints.

"It was easier watching her because she never looked like getting beat," said the winning trainer. "These horses are hard to come by, so for him to turn up on a day like this is massive.

"We're lacking a big horse. We've been spoiled and have had a lot of good ones, but they don't grow on trees and I think Jason's celebration was a reflection of that.

"It's impossible to fill the gap of Highfield Princess because she was a league above. Losing her hit everyone hard and you'd have loved to have seen her progeny race, but that's top-level sport, it's harsh. But Jm Jungle is improving, so who knows where he might take us."

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