Despite a busy year that kicked off at Meydan in March and then took in Group 1 races in Hong Kong, England, Ireland, France and America, Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) may not be finished yet, with potential trips to either Japan or Hong Kong on the radar for the near future. Following his win in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf under an enterprising Seamus Heffernan ride at Santa Anita on Saturday, Aidan O'Brien is already looking forward to the 4-year-old's next international assignment.
“He isn't finished yet this year as he is in the [G1] Japan Cup and a race in Hong Kong,” said O'Brien. “We'll take him home and see how he is but the Japan Cup is in three weeks and the Hong Kong race is six weeks away. He could take in one of those or he could possibly do both.”
Highland Reel has already proven his effectiveness at Sha Tin, beating Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) by almost the same margin Saturday as in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase last December. His exploits at Santa Anita brought his career earnings to just under £5m and he also provided 45-year-old Heffernan, a key member of the Ballydoyle staff, with his first Breeders' Cup winner.
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