The Mark Johnston-trained Highland Premiere (2 c ex Forthefirstime by Dr Fong) provided his Swettenham Stud shuttle sire, seven time Group 1 winner Highland Reel (Galileo), with his first winner when he broke his maiden over six furlongs at Hamilton on Thursday. 

Taken to the front from the barriers under jockey Ben Curtis, Highland Premier was travelling well and was asked a question with 400 metres left to travel. He faced a strong challenge in the closing stages but had enough in had to hold off Smullen (Camacho) by a neck. Mi Meh Darling (Holy Roman Emperor) was another two and three quarters of a length back in third. 

Bred by Worksop Manor Stud, Highland Premiere becomes the second winner for his dam. He was sold for 32,000gns to JC Bloodstock at the 2019 Tattersalls December Foal Sale before being bought by his trainer for just 15,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2.

Highland Reel, a son of perennial champion sire Galileo and the Danehill mare Hveger – a half-sister to Queen Anne winner and Australian Group 1 scorer Haradasun – proved a prolific global campaigner for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners. 

Bred by the Hveger Syndicate and sold by Camas Park Stud to Warren Bloodstock for 460,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls Book 1 Sale, Highland Reel amassed seven top-level triumphs including successes in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and two Hong Kong Vases.