Highland Reel En Route As Coolmore Target Successive Cox Plate Success

Leading Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that Highland Reel will target the Sportingbet Cox Plate on Thursday 22nd October as three of his Ballydoyle contingent have left the Emerald Isle to line up at the Spring Carnival.

The 3-year-old son of Galileo became a Group 1 winner when landing the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in August and makes the long journey on the back of a solid effort behind Golden Horn in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Highland Reel is currently rated a $10.00 shot with William Hill to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Adelaide, who narrowly edged Fawkner after a great ride by Ryan Moore at Moonee Valley. O’Brien believes that his colt is the right type of horse to give him and owners Coolmore a second successive Cox Plate; “Highland Reel, who has a similar profile to Adelaide, is being aimed at the Cox Plate.”

No Melbourne Cup Bid For Order Of St George

“Order Of St George had a minor training setback and we’ve decided to put him away for next year,” confirmed the Master of Ballydoyle, who continued to say; “Bondi Beach and Kingfisher are both tough and genuine horses who we believe have the necessary class and stamina for the Melbourne Cup.”

Should they enter the stalls at Flemington on November 3rd, Bondi Beach ($21.00 Winner) and Kingfisher ($31.00 William Hill) will be the stable’s first Melbourne Cup runners since 2008.

The Former has been involved in a few controversial incidents this season and may have given more of a fight when hampered in the Great Voltigeur at York before eventually finishing runner-up. Then came the St Leger where the horse was seemingly impeded by Simple Verse and promoted to first place on the day, only to have the decision later reversed on appeal.

Kingfisher will most likely be seen to best effect on quicker ground and has some good form to his name after finishing second to Trip To Paris in the Gold Cup at Ascot, though was last seen finishing eighth to Order Of St George in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh.