Highland Reel On Top in Prince of Wales's

Registering a sixth group 1 triumph in his inimitable iron-willed style, Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) put Ballydoyle back on top at one of the meetings where it really matters as he scotched fears that he would not prove as effective over 10 furlongs in Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot. Despite his recent big days happening over a mile and a half, the bay had won a firm-ground GI Secretariat S. over this trip and Ryan Moore had no concerns regarding his pace as he accepted a lead from Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Hard at work in the straight, the 9-4 second favourite found plenty as he had in the G1 Coronation Cup to gain the advantage with 150 yards remaining and secure an ultimately authoritative 1 1/4-length success from Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who denied Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the runner's-up spot by a short head. “He's concrete–a brilliant horse and Davy, who rides him every day, felt he was getting better and better,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “He is unbelievable, an incredible horse with pace and courage and tactical speed–he has everything. He won't stop, he's so brave. He was a very good group two winner over seven furlongs as a two-year-old, so he had that pace.”

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES'S S.-G1, £750,000, ASC, 6-21, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:05.04, g/f.
1–HIGHLAND REEL (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Hveger (Aus) (MGSW-Aus), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Circles of Gold (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
3rd Dam: Olympic Aim, by Zamazaan (Fr)
(460,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Hveger Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore; £425,325. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 11-14f, MGISW-US, G1SW-HK, MG1SP-Fr & G1SP-Aus, 23-9-6-1, $8,591,214. *Full to Idaho (Ire), GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $743,699; and 1/2 to Valdemoro (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), MG1SP-Aus, $337,006. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]
2–Decorated Knight (GB), 126, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Pearling, by Storm Cat. O/B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-Roger Charlton. £161,250.
3–Ulysses (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Light Shift, by Kingmambo. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £80,700.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 10.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Queen's Trust (GB), Scottish (Ire), Mekhtaal (GB), Johannes Vermeer (Ire), Jack Hobbs (GB). Scratched: Nezwaah (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The juvenile race that Aidan O'Brien referred to in his post-race interview was the G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood, which offered confirmation that he possessed an above-average level of ability first hinted at previously with his 12-length maiden win at Gowran Park. That residual class was not always at the fore during the next 12 months, but from time to time he was exciting again such as when second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and when beating Scottish in the G3 Gordon S. back at the Glorious meeting. After his rout in the Secretariat, which was his first go at making all with Seamie Heffernan opting for the aggressive tactics that would serve him so well for the next part of his career, he began his development into a formidable international presence when shipping to Moonee Valley and chasing home Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) at a respectable distance when third in the G1 Cox Plate. On to Sha Tin next, he belied his raw age by downing the seasoned Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the G1 Hong Kong Vase and while things did not fall right for the first six months of 2016 he sprang forward from a second in the G2 Hardwicke S. at this meeting to capture this venue's feature G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II S. Given another front-running masterclass there by Ryan Moore, he went on to beat all bar Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York in August and after a seventh in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown the following month rose his level again to be second in the ground-breaking G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe dominated by his stable.

Seamie Heffernan's second stellar ride in the States when steering him to glory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf gave Highland Reel another key prize and he maintained his standard when second back to defend his crown in the Hong Kong Vase. Possibly compromised by the rain when last of seven in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Mar. 25, he re-appeared in the June 2 G1 Coronation Cup which he almost missed after flight delays en route to Epsom and he was able to overcome a tight schedule to prevail from the front again. After that Aidan O'Brien talked about the Hardwicke and he was possibly only here because Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was unable to be, but he still attracted his customary market support without being as strong in the betting as some of his stable's big guns in these prestige events.

Settled in a handy second from the outset, he had only Scottish to aim at throughout and when Ulysses loomed on his outer to get past the Godolphin front-runner first the writing briefly looked to be on the wall. When the Stoute representative and Decorated Knight failed to draw away from Highland Reel, the door was ajar for his renewed rally and after he had gained the advantage 150 yards out he was not for catching in another strong staying effort. He was providing Aidan O'Brien with a 300th group or grade success on the flat and jumps and, barring injury, is almost certain to add to that tally over the coming months. “He has passed every test that you would want a thoroughbred to go through,” his trainer said. “His first group race was as a two-year-old and we have toured the world with him since then. He is like his sire Galileo, because he also had so much courage and he has passed it on to Highland Reel ten-fold. We always thought the world of him because he has always been a natural, brilliant athlete. Sometimes he gets beat, but if the pace is strong and if it comes anywhere near courage, then he will be there fighting. He has awful lot of tactical speed and that is a huge asset to have in a horse. I'm not sure we have ever had a horse with the constitution that he has.”

O'Brien is looking at a defence of his crown in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. July 29. “The plan was to come here for this race and then come back to Ascot again for the King George, but we'll see what the lads want to do,” he added, while Ryan Moore paid his own tribute. “He has a marvellous attitude, like so many of these Galileos and they were one-two-three here. He's been everywhere and keeps coming back. It was a tough performance at Epsom and he has come back after not that long a break, so I'd say it was probably a career-best from him today. He had a difficult day that day and to then come here and win, it is a massive performance by him. We knew he would see it out real well and the last furlong was his best. Obviously he's a very tough horse, but he's a high-class horse as well. For me this is the highlight of the week and I'm delighted he's come and done it.”

Connections of Decorated Knight were buoyed by the result, with trainer Roger Charlton saying, “He was a 10-1 shot and fourth favourite in the betting, but every time he runs he improves. Every time he finds a bit more. Ulysses looked as though he had gone past him, but he battled back. I'm really pleased and it's no disgrace to be beaten by Highland Reel. I think he is suited by being trained mainly by himself and in the nice, calm environment of Beckhampton, which is quite different from Newmarket where he was trained before. He travels well and we know, that like a lot of Galileos, he can get quite sweaty but it doesn't affect his performance. I need to talk to the owners, but the Arlington Million is a possibility again, as is the G1 Eclipse [at Sandown July 8]–after a performance like today that is a race that could come on the agenda.”

Sir Michael Stoute was also pleased with the effort of Ulysses and also the fourth Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and said, “I think that's his best performance to date. He's developed very pleasingly from three to four and he is mentally more mature–he relaxes more. I can't make a decision about what he does next when he's just run in 100 degrees heat–we'll have to see how he recovers. Queen's Trust ran a blinder. She was interfered with soon after the jump off, but came home as well, or better, than any of them.” John Gosden reported the 2-1 favourite Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) to have been unsuited by the fast ground as he faded to finish last. “Obviously, that trip on that ground is not his scene,” he commented. “A mile and a quarter here in the Autumn on soft–no problem–but this just isn't his ground. He didn't let himself down on it. He came with every chance in the straight. You always notice with a horse whether they get low and race but just stay on the same lead coming back off the ground.”

Highland Reel's dam was second in the G2 South Australian Oaks and third in the G2 Schweppes Oaks prior to her second career which is proving a resounding success. Her first foal was Valdemoro, who finished runner-up in the G1 Crown VRC Oaks and G1 Vinery Stud Storm Queen S., while a year after Highland Reel she threw his stablemate Idaho who could still be anything. Unseating when hot favourite for the G1 St Leger in September, he has time to revive the form of his prior placings in the G1 English and Irish Derby and success in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. The second dam is the G1 Australian Oaks heroine Circles of Gold, whose Elvstroem (Aus) also by Danehill won five times at the highest level including in the Caulfield Cup and Victoria Derby and whose Haradasun (Aus) was successful three times in group 1 company including the G1 Queen Anne S. here. Descendants of the third dam Olympic Aim include the champion sprinter of both hemispheres Starspangledbanner (Aus) and also the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas heroine Amicus (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Hveger has a 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt also by Galileo, with the former named Via Condotti (Ire).