Highest Ground Sparkles at Haydock
Image:
Description:
Photo: Steve Davies
Ryan Moore (right) shares a moment with Highest Ground after winning June 24 at Haydock
Highest Ground confirmed the promise of his debut win at Leicester last September with a comfortable success June 24 over the smart Waldkonig at Haydock.
The son of Frankel, who impressed despite a slow start on his debut last season, was sent off the 13-8 second favorite and, after tracking the front-running Waldkonig, cruised into the lead a furlong out to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Winning rider Ryan Moore said: "He's a lovely colt. I'd be very happy with what he did today, hopefully he's a proper colt."
The winner, who is owned by the Niarchos family, has long been held in high regard by connections, although a throat problem delayed his return to the track this season.
Waldkonig impressed with a nine-length strike at Wolverhampton in January, before finishing third in the listed Newmarket Stakes on Guineas weekend. The pair drew 11 lengths clear of the third-placed Mersin.
Highest Ground returns victorious after throat issues delayed his 2020 debut
Moore would not be drawn as to whether the July 4 Investec Derby (G1) was next on the agenda, but Betfair cut the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt to 14-1 for the Epsom Classic.
Stoute is noted for his patient approach but Highest Ground could follow a similar path to Ulysses, who ran in the same silks and won a maiden in May before contesting the Derby that June. He could only finish 11th in the 2016 classic but scored twice at the top level as a 4-year-old.