Highland Reel Leads Every Step in King George

The six rivals facing Highland Reel in the £1.215 million King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) July 23 at Ascot had no answer for his early speed, and the 4-year-old son of Galileo skipped on the front end to score a clear victory.

The victory gives Highland Reel a grade I/group I victory on three different continents as last year he captured the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International Racecourse and the Longines Hong Kong Vase (HK-I) at Sha Tin for Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor.

"The horse has been progressing all the time and we couldn't be happier," said winning trainer Aidan O'Brien. "This is an incredible horse. As everyone knows, he travels the world and he's getting better, which is amazing. Physically, the development is plain and, mentally, he's a rock."

After breaking well Saturday under Ryan Moore, Highland Reel smoothly settled into his cruising speed in the 1 1/2-mile test. With seemingly little effort, he opened a five-length lead through the first half of the race; then Moore appeared to effectively gear him down for about a quarter mile.

Coming out of the final turn on the good to firm turf, group II winner Wings of Desire launched a challenge at the front-runner, but Highland Reel proved to have energy in reserve, holding sway over that rival through the stretch to score about a one-length win. Lady Bamford's Wings of Desire, the lone 3-year-old in the field, entered Saturday's race off a fourth in last month's Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I).

The Queen's Dartmouth, who last month won the Hardwicke Stakes (Eng-II), rallied late to finish third but never threatened the top two. In the Hardwicke, Dartmouth defeated Highland Reel by a head, but the latter turned tables Saturday.

"It's a marvellous achievement from Aidan to get him back in this shape to win this sort of race," Moore said. "He's a very strong horse. He's very professional—he knows how to race."

Highland Reel was sent off the 13-8 favorite. With the victory, he is ensured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) as the King George and Queen Elizabeth is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" event. 

"He can go back to Australia, he can do Japan, Hong Kong, and there's the Breeders' Cup Turf," O'Brien said.