Highland Reel makes the World a Smaller Place

They say the world is shrinking. I guess that’s true. Travel is a less pain inducing undertaking than ever before, and, of course, technology brings the world together in a way not even imagined just a few decades ago. Until the day, however, when Captain James T. Kirk and the rest of the gang from Star Trek bring us a transporter large enough to teleport a racehorse and team from country to country in a matter of seconds, horse racing travel will continue to be more than only the simplest of tasks. But then you have a horse like Highland Reel.

Our slice of the racing world knows him as the recent winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, and if you’ve been really paying attention, as the romping winner of the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in the summer of 2015.

While those two races alone make him one of the best grass horses we’ve seen take to the American turf in the past two years, the Aidan O’Brien conditioned star is much more than that. The story of Highland Reel is a global one.

Purchased by the Coolmore team for $460,000 guineas as a yearling, the racing career of the son of Galileo started in the normal way. Bred in Ireland, Highland Reel made his first two starts in his native land, initially finishing second in a June maiden race at Leopardstown. It was in his second start, though, that the well-bred colt began to make some serious noise. On July 1, 2014, he won a one-mile maiden race at Gowran Park by a dozen lengths. The daylight victory at the track about 13 kilometers outside of Kilkenny has sent the talented turf horse on a 2 ½-year racing odyssey that shows no signs of slowing down.

Since his career debut, Highland Reel has compiled an exemplary record of: 19-7-5-1, while amassing nearly 7.3 million in American dollars. The solid record in a series of big races is impressive, but it is when you consider his travel, that you really begin to realize what a special horse this is.

The handsome colt with a white blaze and one white sock has run at 13 different racetracks in seven different countries. His travel log is nothing short of amazing…

At two: Ireland to England

At three: France to Ireland to England to USA to Ireland to Australia to Hong Kong

At four: Dubai to Hong Kong to England to Ireland to France to USA to Hong Kong

There have been high quality horses who have globetrotted from one big race to another before, but you would be hard pressed to find one who has done so with as much success as Highland Reel, and this of course only accounts for his journey from race to race, rather than the travel for his training, as well.

On Sunday, Highland Reel will take to the starting gate as strictly the horse to beat in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin Racecourse. Last year, he became only the second three-year-old to win the rich race, with a purse of just over $2 million in U.S. dollars. Now he’ll be looking to become only the third horse to repeat victories in the prestigious 2,400-meter turf race. On paper, the frequent flyer looks to have an outstanding chance to do just that.

And after Sunday, it will be on to new races, countries, and adventures for Highland Reel -- Making the world a smaller place one race at a time.