Highland Reel off the mark as Premiere reels to victory at Hamilton

The hugely popular globetrotting Highland Reel was provided with his first runner on Thursday as Highland Premiere struck at Hamilton on the third attempt.

Bred by Worksop Manor Stud and a 32,000gns purchase from the Tattersalls December Foal Sale to JC Bloodstock, the colt then made 15,000gns from Tattersalls Book 2 to Mark Johnston.

The seventh foal out of stakes-winning Forthefirstime, a Dr Fong half-sister to the Listed scorer and Group 3-placed Exceed And Excel mare Pyman's Theory, Highland Premier was fourth on debut at Ripon and then placed third at Nottingham last month.

Highland Reel, a son of perennial champion sire Galileo and the Danehill mare Hveger - a half-sister to Queen Anne winner and Australian Group 1 scorer Haradasun - proved a prolific global campaigner for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners.

Bred by the Hveger Syndicate and sold by Camas Park Stud to Warren Bloodstock for 460,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls Book 1 Sale, Highland Reel amassed seven top-level triumphs including successes in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and two Hong Kong Vases.

Winner of the Vintage Stakes at two, he was also runner-up to Postponed in the Juddmonte International, second to New Bay in the Prix du Jockey Club and runner-up to Found in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Having retired to Coolmore's Irish base for the 2018 breeding season, the nine-year-old has a first crop of 140 juveniles to represent him this season. He stands for a fee of €10,000.

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