Highland Reel's Brother Finishes Second in Superlative Stakes

Mark Smith - Sunday July 15

Just ten days after breaking his maiden at Tipperary, Highland Reel's brother Cape Of Good Hope (Galileo) was a fighting second in Saturday's Group II Superlative Stakes (7f) at Newmarket to become the fourth stakes horse for Elvstroem's Group 1 placed sister Hveger (Danehill).

The 7-time Group 1 winner Highland Reel will be a welcome addition to the stallion ranks in Victoria this spring when he takes up residence at Swettenham Stud. (photo Swettenham Stud)

Advertisement


"He ran a lovely race and we couldn't be happier," O'Brien said.

"We were very happy with him and he is progressing lovely. We are going gently with him and you can see that with every run he is getting a bit better.

"I think he is still a baby, so he is progressing. Physically he is strong, but mentally he is still a baby.

"I don't think a mile will be a problem when that time comes, but we've plenty of time for that and we don't need to go there yet."

Try as he might, Cape Of Good Hope was no match for Godolphin's Dubawi colt Quorto who had been so impressive when winning over 6-furlongs on the same track when making his career debut on January 22.

Winning trainer Charlie Appleby was confident the colt had come on from his debut and bookmakers were equally impressed as they cut his price from 33/1 to 12/1 for next year's 2000 Guineas:

"We were confident coming here today that he had come forward and that the step up in trip was going to suit," Appleby told Sporting Life.

"He has shown some gears there. William got off and said he has a great racing mind. He travels very sweetly in your hands and he picked up well when he hit the rising ground. He is an exciting horse, for sure.

"Being by Dubawi one would hope we will see a bit more improvement, with a bit of luck. I would say the National Stakes (at the Curragh on September 16) is the more likely target.

"Seven looks to be his trip, but hopefully further down the line a mile will be for him."

There is every reason to believe that Quorto will improve as he is stretched out in distance.

His stakes-winning dam Volume (Mount Nelson) placed in both the Epsom Oaks and Irish Oaks and she is a half-sister to the Lindsay park-trained import Velox who has won up to 2000 metres and placed in the Group III JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Season Highlights – These Guys Made an Impression
The Inglis Australian Weanling Sale gave buyers the opportunity to have a first look at the progeny of a new crop of  first season sires and the big banger of the group duly produced the highest priced baby from this cohort of sires.
Castelvecchio Filly Records Promising Victory
Having placed in her first two starts, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Street Lark (Castelvecchio) appeared to appreciate the step up to the 1500m of Wednesday’s Sportsbet Get On Extra Plate at Caulfield to break her maiden with a promising performance..
First Win for Sword of State Half-Sister
Well-related filly Paravane broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.
Rising Stars - Metro 2YO Double for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) unleashed not one but two exciting juveniles at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with the opening race going to the colt Regulated Affair and shortly after it was the turn of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly Agarwood.
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.