Reel Steel

Nearing his physical peak in the summer of his 5-year-old season, Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) continues to rack up an admirable international record and his attentions are turned towards Royal Ascot on Wednesday for the G1 Prince of Wales's S. Probably due to the fact that Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are missing, this renewal has drawn the best mile-and-a-half horses and Ballydoyle's dynamic performer fits that category after wins in last year's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II S. and GI Breeders' Cup Turf and this year's G1 Coronation Cup. The latter win was his first in Europe this term and he displayed his usual deadly front-running style, which will stand him in fine stead as he reverts to the 10-furlong trip over which he finished runner-up to Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York in August. “He's an incredibly versatile horse and, while it's not been long since Epsom, we've been happy with what he has done since then,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He's a typical Galileo–he's very sound mentally and physically and very consistent. He has a lot of natural ability, a lot of natural tactical pace and obviously he stays very well too.”

When Highland Reel was finishing last of seven in Meydan's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar. 25, Godolphin and Partners' Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) was re-establishing his reputation after a spell in the wilderness. The 2015 G1 Irish Derby hero was having only his fifth start since that Curragh highlight in Dubai, but had still managed to show the same level of ability by finishing third in the last two renewals of the G1 Champion S. over this course and distance. The second of those efforts was particularly meritorious coming off a six-month break having been pulled up in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket and trainer John Gosden is hoping he can stay on track for a profitable season. “It was always the plan to go to Royal Ascot after he won in Dubai, we had the choice of this race and the Hardwicke over a mile-and-a- half later in the week,” he said. “He will be running on ground quicker than he won on in Dubai, but he has gone well on a fast surface before.”

After Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane put the Niarchos Family back in the limelight, their 4-year-old Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be strongly supported to keep the momentum going here. Although he remains under the level of Highland Reel–who he was over six lengths behind when fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf–he looked a bright prospect for this term when winning on his comeback in Sandown's G3 Gordon Richards S. on Apr. 28. “The horse wouldn't be running if he hadn't been giving Sir Michael all the right signals,” the Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper commented. “This was always his early season objective and now we'll see if he's up to it.” Sir Michael Stoute also saddles the 'TDN Rising Star' Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who established herself in the highest class when winning the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and she can be forgiven her return effort when last of four on ground that had gone against her in York's G2 Middleton S. on May 18.

Al Shaqab Racing's Mekhtaal (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) needs to step up off his career-best success in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over nine furlongs at Chantilly on May 28, while that also applies to Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who won a weaker-than-usual edition of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh on May 28. Al Shaqab's racing manager Harry Herbert said, “Mekhtaal has to go on improving and find a bit more, but it was a very solid performance last time out when he won the Prix d'Ispahan. It is a big step up again, but his trainer thought the world of him last year and he was a very impressive Group 2 winner before he lost his way a bit. Seeing him develop through the winter was fascinating, because he is much stronger and mentally seems to have grown up a lot. The ground should be fine.”

Decorated Knight's trainer Roger Charlton said, “The race in Ireland was a fair race, but this is a step up. He's come out of his victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in very good form and he will appreciate the fast ground and likely fast pace. He has now won five of his last seven races and I think it is fair to say on each occasion he has improved. When he won at The Curragh, he was pricking his ears and only doing what was required. He is progressing all the time into a thoroughly good horse.”