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)
"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.
