Prince of Wales's Stakes: Highland Reel gives O'Brien 300 not out

1620 Royal Ascot - Prince Of Wales's Stakes

1st Highland Reel 9/4
2nd Decorated Knight 10/1
3rd Ulysses 9/2

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Report

On the hottest day of the year in Britain, Highland Reel's iron constitution was once again demonstrated as he ran out an authoritative winner of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Only 19 days after his Coronation Cup triumph at Epsom where he only arrived at the racecourse a couple of hours before the stalls opened, the globetrotting five-year-old sat in second place in the early stages as Scottish cut out the early pace.

Ryan Moore kicked Highland Reel up to challenge the leader two furlongs out, but he failed to immediately put the race to bed, needing to be stoked up to keep tabs with Scottish and stronger-travelling rivals such as the improving Ulysses, who appeared to narrowly get his head in front over a furlong out.

However, Highland Reel answered every call willingly for his rider, edged into an advantage just inside the final furlong and was not to be denied, scoring by a length and a quarter.

Decorated Knight came through to claim the forecast spot from Ulysses, but favourite Jack Hobbs was too free in the early stages and finished last of the eight-strong field.

Victory reportedly saw O'Brien claim the 300th Grade or Group One victory of his career over Flat and jumps.

Reaction

Ryan Moore: "He's so tough, he's got a marvellous attitude, so many came at him there.

"This lad has been everywhere but he keeps coming back. It was a tough performance at Epsom (Coronation Cup) and another one today, he's so brave and I'd say that was probably a career best.

"Fair play to Aidan to keep bringing him back. He had a difficult day at Epsom but to come here and win, it's a massive performance. We knew he'd see it out really well."

Aidan O'Brien said: "He's a brilliant horse and Ryan gave him a brilliant ride. 

"He's just an incredible horse - pace, courage, speed, he has everything, he's a great horse.

"He's won't stop, he's so quick tactically and so brave. He stays a mile and a half well but won over seven at two, so he's always had that pace.

"He has passed every test that you would want a thoroughbred to go through. He is like his sire Galileo because he also had so much courage and he has passed it on to Highland Reel tenfold.

"The plan was to come here for this race and then come back to Ascot again for the  King George but we'll see what the lads want to do. That was what we were thinking."

Decorated Knight's trainer Roger Charlton said: "He was a 10/1 shot and fourth favourite in the betting, but every time he runs he improves. Every time he finds a bit more.

"Ulysses looked as though he had gone past him, but he battled back. I'm really pleased, and it's no disgrace to be beaten by Highland Reel.

"I think he is suited by being trained mainly by himself and in the nice, calm environment of Beckhampton, which is quite different from Newmarket, where he was trained before [in 2014 and 2015]. He travels well, and we know, that like a lot of Galileos, he can get quite sweaty, but it doesn't affect his performance.

"I need to talk to the owners, but the Arlington Million is a possibility again [he missed the race after picking up an injury before last year's race], as is the Coral-Eclipse - after a performance like today that is a race that could come on the agenda."  

Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Ulysses and fourth-home Queen's Trust: "I think that's his best performance to date. He's developed very pleasingly from three to four, and he is mentally more mature - he relaxes more. I can't make a decision about what he does next when he's just run in 100-degrees heat - we'll have to see how he recovers.

"Queen's Trust ran a blinder. She was interfered with soon after the jump off, but came home as well, or better, than any of them."