Highland Reel wins Hong Kong Vase

Cox Plate placegetter Highland Reel has given champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien his first major win in Hong Kong in the International Vase.

Australia’s representative Preferment travelled midfield most of the way and failed to muster enough speed in the straight to be a threat at the end of the 2400 metres.

Highland Reel beat last year’s Vase winner Flintshire with Dariyan third.

The horse finished third in the Cox Plate in October, 5-1/2 lengths behind Preferment’s Chris Waller-trained stablemate Winx.

Highland Reel is by Coolmore’s champion stallion Galileo out of Australian mare Hveger, a daughter of grand broodmare Circles Of Gold, the mother of Elvstroem and Haradasun.