3 minute read
Highland Premier breaks his maiden at Hamilton on Thursday
The Mark Johnston-trained Highland Premiere (2 c ex Forthefirstime by Dr Fong) provided his Swettenham Stud shuttle sire, seven time Group 1 winner Highland Reel (Galileo), with his first winner when he broke his maiden over six furlongs at Hamilton on Thursday.
Taken to the front from the barriers under jockey Ben Curtis, Highland Premier was travelling well and was asked a question with 400 metres left to travel. He faced a strong challenge in the closing stages but had enough in had to hold off Smullen (Camacho) by a neck. Mi Meh Darling (Holy Roman Emperor) was another two and three quarters of a length back in third.
Bred by Worksop Manor Stud, Highland Premiere becomes the second winner for his dam. He was sold for 32,000gns to JC Bloodstock at the 2019 Tattersalls December Foal Sale before being bought by his trainer for just 15,000gns at last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2. His dam was a Listed winner and is a half-sister to fellow Listed winning filly Pyman's Theory (Exceed And Excel) being out of Fazebo (Cadeaux Genereux).
Highland Reel will stand his fourth season at stud in Australia for an unchanged fee of $16,500 (inc GST), having covered 161 mares at Swettenham Stud last year.
#HIGHLANDPREMIERE 2C Highland Reel x Forthefirsttime(Dr Fong) makes all to take out 6F Novice Stks at Hamilton UK for Tr #MarkJohnston & Jk #BenCurtis..#HIGHLANDREEL @SwettenhamStud 2021 pic.twitter.com/WUm6fM0NLg
— Swettenham Stud (@SwettenhamStud) June 3, 2021
