Under an enterprising ride by Seamus Heffernan, Coolmore's world
Last year, Highland Reel won Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in the US as well as the HK International Vase at Sha Tin. In between those wins, Highland Reel clocked in third behind Winx and
After taking some time to find his feet in 2016, the Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Galileo won the Group 1King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July and was runner-up to Postponed in the Group 1Juddmonte International Stakes at York. He headed to Santa Anita off a third to stablemate Found in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
When Highland Reel won the International Vase (photo Grant Courtney) he defeated Flintshire (Dansili) and the Juddmonte Farm homebred chased him home again in the Breeders' Cup Turf but came up one and three- quarter lengths short.
The winners
"He's the type of horse that's brave in front," Heffernan told The Blood-Horse.
"And when he wants to go, you let him go and he turns it on. I thought there were a few horses that were going to come from the back and come
The son 4yo of Galileo advances his overall record to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 19 starts with earnings of $US7,279,362.
Coolmore was winning the race for the sixth time and the fourth in the last five years.
"We know he gets a mile and a half very well," Aidan O'Brien said. "We know that he handles
Highland Reel was purchased as a yearling at the Tattersalls October Sale for 460,000 guineas.
A half-brother to the Group 1 VRC Oaks runner-up Valdemoro (Encosta de Lago), Highland Reel is out of the Group I placed Australian bred Danehill (USA) mare
Highland Reel's year younger brother Idaho, a 750,000 guineas Tattersalls yearling, won the Group II Great Voltigeur Stakes at York this season in addition to finishing second in the Irish Derby and third in the Epsom Derby.