Highland Reel Brother Chasing Group One Glory

Tara Madgwick - Friday May 11
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.

Headed to Swettenham Stud in the spring, Highland Reel is the full brother to Idaho Placed in the Epsom and Irish Derbies at three, the Aidan O'Brien trained Idaho won the Group II Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last year before acquitting himself well, albeit without winning, in five subsequent Group I races which included the Arc de Triomphe and Japan Cup.

He scored a dominant three and a half length win in the Ormonde Stakes over 1m5 ½ f with Ryan Moore in the saddle prompting Aidan O'Brien to be optimistic about the year head.

"Idaho had a break since Dubai and that's as far as we've run him (since the St Leger, when he lost his rider). We came here with a view to going back to the Coronation and King George, but Ryan was very happy with how well he stayed and we could look at another plan if needed. It leaves more options for us. He's maturing well and starting to do things right," O'Brien said.

One of three winners from Group I placed Australian Danehill mare Hveger, Idaho has won four races and placed seven times from 18 starts.

His full brother Highland Reel won 10 races - seven of them Group I – and will stand at Swettenham at a fee of $16,500.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 22
Here is the full list of 54 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar Mare Wins for Te Akau - Half-Brother for K1
Consistent sprinting mare Egyptian Queen was rewarded for a string of solid performances at Te Rapa on Saturday, powering away with the Lodge Real Estate 1200.
2024 Favourite Foal Winner
Firstly we’d like to thank everyone for taking an interest in our foal gallery and supporting their favourites, but there was always a sentimental top pick for many and the most famous foal in the country has now won his first race!
Little Brose to Stand at Little Avondale
Arguably there is no better stallion making race in Australasia than Victoria's only Gr.1 event for two-year-olds, the Blue Diamond Stakes, and when you add the hottest bloodline in the Southern Hemisphere to the mix, you have an exciting stallion prospect. 
Is He the Next Via Sistina or Buckaroo?
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross is a formidable one and has produced this spring’s elite Group I winners Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) with another lightly raced import bred the same way in Gilded Water (GB) going two for two in Australia with a cavalier win at Randwick on Saturday.
Four MM Lead Ups for Icarian Dream - what are the stats?
Two-year-old filly Icarian Dream’s win in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday will see her head into the Magic Millions 2YO Classic having had four starts before year’s end, which might seem a lot in this day and age – but is it? We’ve had a look.
Arriving Home Goes Two for Two – Three-Quarter Brother for MM 2025
Talented I Am Invincible filly Arriving Home does her best work on the line and we saw it when she scored on debut at Warwick Farm earlier this month and again when she got there in the last stride to win at Randwick on Saturday.
Hong Kong Summed Up - Dec 22 - Brave Smash Winning Double
A double for Brave Smash, including a new winner, also new winners for Hellbent and Kermadec, and three yearling catalogue updates amongst seven Australasian bred winners at Sha Tin on Sunday.
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.
Highland Reel to Stand at Swettenham
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.