Highland Reel and Ryan Moore combined to win the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes last year. Picture: Racingfotos.com
Aidan O’Brien has described what makes Highland Reel such a special horse ahead of the five-year-old attempting to become only the third back-to-back winner of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) at Ascot on Saturday.
A six-time Group 1 winner across three continents, Highland Reel showed typical courage when landing the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
O’Brien said: “Highland Reel is an incredible horse. He’s tactically very quick, he’s very like his dad [Galileo]. He stays well, but is also very quick out the gates, very good to get a position and he would absolutely die for you. It’s incredible, he’s so genuine.
“He handles fast ground, mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. He’s travelled the world and has an unbelievable constitution. He is a typical example of what his dad was. So he’s very clear winded, very sound and has a great mind. On the big day, on the big races, you see he gets his blood up when he needs to. And when he doesn’t, he’s relaxed. He’s a great horse.”
Highland Reel is disputing favouritism with Enable, the dual Oaks winner, who will fly the flaf for the Classic generation.
“It’s a very prestigious race, the King George, and I think because it’s a tough race sometimes three-year olds haven’t gone there,” O’Brien said. “But that’s what makes it as good as it is, is when those really special three-year olds come along.
“If it was an easy race to win, it would lose its prestige and value. So if anyone sees a three-year old and they can compete and win a King George, it’s extra special. Even to have a four-year old win it, like with Highland Reel last year, is special and so important to his CV.”
Idaho, a year younger brother of Highland who is also trained by O’Brien, is also set to take his chance. “Idaho has not won a Group 1 race yet whereas Highland Reel has won six of them on three continents. He has got a hard act to follow,” said Kevin Buckley, Coolmore’s UK representative.
Tickets for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day are available here.
