This was Highland Reel's 4th win internationally at G1 level having already traveled all over the world, and he would go on to win 3 more G1 races before being retired to stud by Coolmore. He was a known strong galloper that could run until the cows came home that did his best work being allowed to set his own fractions out on the front end. When they let him get away with pedistrian fractions in the first 3/4 of a mile, and then allowed him to rock the field almost to sleep and then suddenly open up 8 lengths on his nearest persuer after passing the mile pole, with jockey Seamie Heffernan knowing he still had a ton of horse left under him it was all over but the crying. No way he was gonna be caught once he came off the final turn into the stretch with 7 or 8 lengths still in hand on Flintshire.
Both back up riders at Ballydoyle have been outstanding over the years and it's nice to see their loyalty rewarded, despite the likes of Kinane, Spencer, Fallon, Murtagh, Joseph and Moore being top class riders, Colm and Seamie have still ridden plenty of big race winners and would have won plenty more if given the rides.
Bob Gardner lol he's fairly old now. He's had a few big wins on O'Brien "second strings" over the years, great jockey. Always been a brilliant man aboard a front runner
Think that's pretty harsh on Seamie he's a high class jockey but as the person below says has always had to contend with Coolmore having at least 1 jockey receiving their better rides usually therefore I admire him for sticking with it and not complaining. This was an outstanding ride which he is more than capable of doing regularly, IF getting the rides
Soon as he slow the pace down on the front u knew the jockey would kick in the bend great ride well deserved as he not always on the best horse as Ryan Moore as first choice good to see him win his first breeders cup race and take a share of 4 million purse money well done 👏👏👏👏
agreed fantastic ride by Seamie, just as worthy a pilot as Moore imo. If anything I think he's tactically better than Moore, I think Moore sometimes tries to be too clever and leaves the horse with too much ground to make up like Spencer
The trap was set just after they left the gate , get a good lead by halfway slow the pace down enough to give Highland Reel chance to get his lungs full of oxygen and then go all out for the line in the stretch , with a six length lead and a horse wanting to go faster there wasn't ever any doubt about him winning
It was the same tactic that won Highland Reel the King George and has reversed Arc form. When Highland Reel, there was nothing that the likes of Found, Mondialiste and co could do.
@MrDraven37, Precisely my point mate. If you allow Highland Reel to go out and dictate the pace on the front end without putting any kind of real race pressure on him, you can forget about catching this horse on the business end.
GBeret83 I mean to say? Unlike last year? Ryan Moore had FOUND well back. 11th of 13 at the halfway point with too much to do. We shouldn't shed a tear for Aidan O'brien. He got the win/show money of $4 million.
Christy Dolan I honestly believe that is not turf at Santa Anita. It is rubber painted green! Lol. Who knows? The filly & mare turf? 1:57:75??? are u kidding me?
Every jockey in this race was foolish to give highland reel that much of lead and expect him to come back. he a good horse of The front and the jockey on Flintshire had the balls to call highland reel a pace maker as he tho he was second fiddle to found its not like this was AOB second or 3rd string taking about a King George winner here that beat flo shire in Hong Kong . he thought he would came back even the owners were saying during the week the found had highland reel to beat the Europe horse are just better than the American simple as well done highland reel
This was Highland Reel's 4th win internationally at G1 level having already traveled all over the world, and he would go on to win 3 more G1 races before being retired to stud by Coolmore. He was a known strong galloper that could run until the cows came home that did his best work being allowed to set his own fractions out on the front end. When they let him get away with pedistrian fractions in the first 3/4 of a mile, and then allowed him to rock the field almost to sleep and then suddenly open up 8 lengths on his nearest persuer after passing the mile pole, with jockey Seamie Heffernan knowing he still had a ton of horse left under him it was all over but the crying. No way he was gonna be caught once he came off the final turn into the stretch with 7 or 8 lengths still in hand on Flintshire.
excellent rides by the jockey, Galileo sons always brilliant
This guy rode a great tactical race, and he seems like a top notch jockey. Hope he gets many quality rides going forward.
Both back up riders at Ballydoyle have been outstanding over the years and it's nice to see their loyalty rewarded, despite the likes of Kinane, Spencer, Fallon, Murtagh, Joseph and Moore being top class riders, Colm and Seamie have still ridden plenty of big race winners and would have won plenty more if given the rides.
Bob Gardner lol he's fairly old now. He's had a few big wins on O'Brien "second strings" over the years, great jockey. Always been a brilliant man aboard a front runner
Think that's pretty harsh on Seamie he's a high class jockey but as the person below says has always had to contend with Coolmore having at least 1 jockey receiving their better rides usually therefore I admire him for sticking with it and not complaining. This was an outstanding ride which he is more than capable of doing regularly, IF getting the rides
Soon as he slow the pace down on the front u knew the jockey would kick in the bend great ride well deserved as he not always on the best horse as Ryan Moore as first choice good to see him win his first breeders cup race and take a share of 4 million purse money well done 👏👏👏👏
They had a plan, and they executed that plan to perfection. This was for Highland Reel's stud career.
agreed fantastic ride by Seamie, just as worthy a pilot as Moore imo. If anything I think he's tactically better than Moore, I think Moore sometimes tries to be too clever and leaves the horse with too much ground to make up like Spencer
What is more brilliant is that Ectot and Ashleyluvsugar blocked the path of Flintshire when Highland reel accelerated on the back stretch.
The trap was set just after they left the gate , get a good lead by halfway slow the pace down enough to give Highland Reel chance to get his lungs full of oxygen and then go all out for the line in the stretch , with a six length lead and a horse wanting to go faster there wasn't ever any doubt about him winning
Once again, team tactics prevailed.. Found had no chance here.
Hopefully this fantastic win and third will give John Magnier a bit of a fillip as he is not very well at the moment.
It was the same tactic that won Highland Reel the King George and has reversed Arc form. When Highland Reel, there was nothing that the likes of Found, Mondialiste and co could do.
They gave that race to Highland Reel. Slow pace, no one pressuring him. What did they think was going to happen?
@MrDraven37, Precisely my point mate. If you allow Highland Reel to go out and dictate the pace on the front end without putting any kind of real race pressure on him, you can forget about catching this horse on the business end.
Great to see the three british horses i watch week in week out come away from the field in the last furlong. Get on A.P.Obrian
I didnt ask for your input so ram it, like a little teachers pet.
Arrogant wanker. You got owned.
Matthew Wallis you're an embarrassment
Call me an "idiot" and an "arrogant wanker" im gona gome back at ya.
Matthew Wallis The rebuttal of a 5 year old.
48 and change. On the backstretch? Race was over.
GBeret83 This time around? Unlike last year? RYAN MOORE had found 12
GBeret83 I mean to say? Unlike last year? Ryan Moore had FOUND well back. 11th of 13 at the halfway point with too much to do. We shouldn't shed a tear for Aidan O'brien. He got the win/show money of $4 million.
Christy Dolan I honestly believe that is not turf at Santa Anita. It is rubber painted green! Lol. Who knows? The filly & mare turf? 1:57:75??? are u kidding me?
Amen to that Christy! Javier Castellano was totally "lost in translation" aboard Flintshire in this race.
GBeret83 Javier Castellano was lost the entire weekend. Lol
fast!
Easiest money made all weekend,
Every jockey in this race was foolish to give highland reel that much of lead and expect him to come back. he a good horse of The front and the jockey on Flintshire had the balls to call highland reel a pace maker as he tho he was second fiddle to found its not like this was AOB second or 3rd string taking about a King George winner here that beat flo shire in Hong Kong . he thought he would came back even the owners were saying during the week the found had highland reel to beat the Europe horse are just better than the American simple as well done highland reel