First Aussie Stakes-Winner for Highland Reel

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday November 1

A regular shuttler to Swettenham Stud in Victoria, Galileo’s champion son Highland Reel (IRE) is off the mark with his first Australian stakes-winner with High Approach making light of testing wet conditions at Flemington to score a courageous win  in the Listed VRC Tab Trophy Stakes (1800m).

High Approach wins on the big stage at Flemington - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Archie Alexander, Highl Approach broke his maiden over 1500m at Ballarat at his fourth start and jumped straight from there to Black Type company with a happy result.

He staged a thrilling battle up the straight with runner-up Linderman, prevailing to win by a long head for Ben Melham and has now won two of five starts earning nearly $150,000 in prizemoney.

&

;ldq

uo;He’s a horse that has come from a maiden win to town, but we wouldn’t have been here if we didn’t like the horse and we’ve always liked him and it’s a great result for everyone,” said Archie Alexander.

High Approach was a $50,000 Inglis Premier purchase.

A $50,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Alexander Racing / Rogers Bloodstock from the MB Thoroughbreds draft, High  Approach was bred by Dr Judith Mulholland.

Advertisement

“I can’t take any credit for it (his purchase), my racing manager Jeremy Rogers, on the last day of the sale said ‘come on you better have a look at this horse’ … $50,000 later and here we are,” Alexander said.

“We’ve always thought he was a Derby horse and thought maybe right now, but it all came a bit soon. He’ll have a break now and come back in the autumn and maybe aim up at a Derby, who knows.”

High Approach is the best of eight winners from good producing Encosta de Lago mare Encapsulate, a half-sister to the dam of Group II winning sprinter Super Cash.

Encapsulate was covered last spring by Strasbourg after missing to him the year before.

Highland Reel (IRE)

High Approach is from the first Australian crop of Highland Reel and is his first Australian stakes-winner and the third worldwide for the six time Group I winner.

Highland Reel is at Swettenham stud this spring at a fee of $16,500.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Trophy LR 1800m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:53.52
1
High Approach
- 3g Highland Reel (IRE) x Encapsulate (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: B Melham 57
2
0.2
Lindermann
- 3c Lonhro (AUS) x Self Esteem (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 57
3
1.5
Dream Hour
- 3g Dawn Approach (IRE) x Ambivalent (AUS) (Aussie Rules (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: D Oliver 57
4
1.9
Dashing
- 3g Magnus (AUS) x Westchester (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: Aaron Purcell Rdr: Ms L J Meech 57
5
2.4
Tokenist
- 3g Iffraaj (GB) x La Souvenir (NZ) (Nuclear Freeze (USA))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: Ethan Brown 57
6
3.2
Sugoi Legend
- 3g Maurice (JPN) x Arleigh (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
7
3.6
Cool Kaap
- 3c American Pharoah (USA) x Ashley's Kitty (USA) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
8
4.3
Zoe's Promise
- 3f Swear (AUS) x Kinz Funky Monkey (USA) (The Green Monkey (USA))
Tnr: D J Cannon Rdr: Alana Kelly 57
9
7.1
Serangoon
- 3g Ilovethiscity (AUS) x Maraudamiss (AUS) (Clangalang (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Shinn 57
10
13.1
Quang Tri
- 3f Shalaa (IRE) x Saigon Tea (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: M J Dee 56
11
19.1
Born Hustler
- 3f Tarzino (NZ) x Joint Aspiration (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: Craig Williams 55
More Reading...
G2 Winning Mare chasing G1 Success
Classy mare Val Di Zoldo will have the opportunity to test her talents at the highest level this term after resuming with a tidy trial at Taupo on Monday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Aussie Globetrotting Mare Now Calls Woodside Home
Woodside Park have released a list of their quality mares set to visit new recruit Celestial Legend this spring and one of them is Aussie bred Group II winner Nafaayes, who produced a promising 2YO winner overnight in the UK.
Elite Broodmare Band Booked to Celestial Legend
Woodside Park Stud is proud to announce they are sending an outstanding group of broodmares to visit their exciting young sire Celestial Legend. 
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Zoustar 7YO on Comeback Trail
Joliestar is not the only good Zoustar carrying the colours of Cambridge Stud as Lance Noble has his eye on a major early season prize with one of the few older members of his stable.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.