Highland Reel to Stand at Swettenham

Media Release - Sunday April 15

In a tremendous boost to Australia's stallion ranks, Swettenham Stud has announced that globe-trotting great, HIGHLAND REEL (IRE), will stand in Victoria this spring.

Galileo's champion son Highland ReelHighland Reel's racetrack deeds were nothing short of epic: a Group Two winner as a two-year-old, the winner of seven Group One races at three, four AND five years, the ability to campaign at the highest level in seven countries – including a third behind wonder mare, Winx, in her record breaking Cox Plate, and the winner of nearly 9,500,000 (over A$15 million) in prizemoney, more than any other European trained horse in history.

In 2016, as a four-year-old, Highland Reel campaigned in Dubai, Hong Kong, England (winning the time honoured King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), Ireland, France (running second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe), the United States (winning the Breeders' Cup Turf) and Hong Kong again!

Not surprisingly, Highland Reel was a 'favourite' of legendary trainer, Aidan O'Brien, who has nothing but high praise for the global phenomenon: "an incredible horse with pace and courage and tactical speed … he has everything".

Highland Reel wins the G1 Hong Kong InternationalLeading European bloodstock agent, John Ferguson, is also a huge fan: "Highland Reel won his maiden – as a two-year-old – by an incredible 12 lengths and nearly four years later, the horse was still at his peak, ending his career with an emphatic victory in the (Group One) Hong Kong Vase. It's worth noting too that his first Hong Kong Vase victory, in 2015, was only weeks after his third behind Winx when he was still effectively only a three-year-old. A tremendous racehorse."

Yet, while Highland Reel's race record – and incredible temperament – are incentive enough, his "Aussie" pedigree will only add to his massive appeal.

As a son of the all-conquering sire and sire-of-sires in Galileo, an eight time Champion Sire of 64 individual Group One winners, Highland Reel is bred on the same potent Galileo/Danehill cross as Frankel and Teofilo, whose Group One winners in Australia include Happy Clapper, Humidor, Palentino, Sonntag and Kermadec.

Highland Reel, meanwhile, is out of the Group One placed, Australian-bred Danehill mare, Hveger, whose other runners include Highland Reel's full brother, Idaho, a dual Group One winner and placed in both the English and Irish Derbies, and his half brother Valdemoro, runner up in both the Group One VRC Oaks and Vinery Stud Stakes.

Hveger, in turn, is out of the Group One AJC Australian Oaks winner, Circles of Gold, a genuine 'blue hen' and one of Australia's most influential broodmares.

Importantly, Highland Reel is closely related to Champion Sprinter and leading sire, Starspangledbanner, who also campaigned successfully in both hemispheres and has produced Group winning juveniles in Europe (Champion 2YO Colt in France, The Wow Signal) and Australia.

Encouragingly – and not surprisingly – extensive pedigree analysis reveals that Highland Reel 'nicks' with a vast range of Australian broodmares.

"Swettenham Stud is extremely excited to have secured Highland Reel from Coolmore Stud for stallion duties in the southern hemisphere," Swettenham Stud principal Adam Sangster enthused. "And while he might be standing at our Nagambie base, Highland Reel's appeal is truly global.

"With his tremendous race record and what is clearly a stallion's pedigree, I'm highly confident he will attract broodmare owners from all states … particularly at such a competitive fee."

Highland Reel will join the star-studded Swettenham roster at an introductory fee of $15,000 plus GST.

Swettenham have also released covering fees for the remainder of their stallion roster, with Toronado (IRE) due to stand at $20,000, Americain (USA) at $10,000, Rebel Dane at $9,000,  Puissance De Lune (IRE) at $8,000 and Trust In A Gust at $6,000, all plus GST.

For further information, phone Adam Sangster on 0418 543 633 or Sam Matthews on 0487 851 572.
Advertisment
More Reading...
Sun City Filly to Target Karaka Million
The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) has been the goal for Sierra Leone from the moment she was purchased at the Yearling Sales, and she took an important step towards the $1 million feature with a game second in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Third Stakes-Winner for Aussie Mare Hveger
A full brother to champion seven time Group I winner Highland Reel, three year-old Galileo colt Cape of Good Hope stamped himself as an Epsom Derby contender when winning the Epsom Blue Riband Trial on Wednesday in the UK.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Highland Reel Brother Chasing Group One Glory
Galileo’s champion son Highland Reel (IRE) will shuttle to Swettenham Stud in Victoria this spring, but for his five year-old full brother Idaho there are still races to be won and a stylish victory overnight in the Group III Ormonde Stakes at Chester shows he’s on track for a big season.