Freshman Sire Highland Reel Off The Mark at Hamilton

Coolmore's Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Mark Johnston-trained even-money favourite Highland Premiere (GB) shed maiden status in Thursday's EBF Restricted Novice S. going a shade over six furlongs at Hamilton. The 32,000gns Tattersalls December foal and 15,000gns October Book 2 yearling had earlier posted an Apr. 15 debut fourth over five at Ripon before running third upped to six in a May 18 Nottingham maiden last time. Prominent throughout, he was stoked up when tackled by Smullen (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) approaching the final eighth and kept on well under a drive in the closing stages to deny that rival by a neck.