Hole in one! Highland Chief gets Gleneagles' stud career off to perfect start

Gleneagles got his stud career off to the perfect start when Highland Chief - his first ever runner - made a winning debut in the West Berkshire Brewery "Newcomers" EBF Maiden Stakes at Newbury on Friday.

The Paul Cole-trained colt raced comfortably in mid-division before launching his challenge approaching the final furlong. A duel ensued with Separate, a daughter of fellow first-season sire Cable Bay, but Highland Chief showed a willing attitude to lead late on before scoring by a neck. He earned quotes of 33-1 for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

View full result and replay from Newbury

Highland Chief was bred by owner Fitri Hay, and is the fourth foal out of Pink Symphony, a daughter of Montjeu who won a Cork Group 3 aged four.

Despite being by a noted influence for stamina, Pink Symphony ran three times at two, with her best juvenile effort coming on her third start when she finished fourth to subsequent dual Group 1 winner - and dam of Minding - Lillie Langtry.

Highland Chief's pedigree entitles him to make up into a smart two-year-old, as Pink Symphony is closely related to Group 3-winning juvenile Fantasia, and in turn that pair are out of a daughter of champion two-year-old Blue Duster, winner of the 1995 Cheveley Park Stakes.

Highland Chief (pink and green silks) makes a winning debut at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gleneagles was, of course, a top-class two-year-old himself. He won four times at two, including when landing the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and the Group 1 National Stakes. He rounded off his juvenile campaign with a first-past-the-post effort in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, only to be demoted to third having been deemed to have caused interference.

Under the guidance of Aidan O'Brien, Gleneagles returned at three to land three more top-level events, completing the Anglo-Irish 2,000 Guineas double before claiming the St James's Palace Stakes. He retired to Coolmore at a fee of €60,000 in 2016.

Not only does Gleneagles boast an impressive race record, but he also possesses one of the strongest pedigrees around. Not only is he by the great Galileo, but he is the second foal out of Cherry Hinton Stakes winner You'resothrilling, a daughter of Storm Cat and a sister to Giant's Causeway.

You'resothrilling is out of the increasingly influential Mariah's Storm, who also produced Pearling, the dam of three-time Group 1 winner and Irish National Stud resident Decorated Knight.

Gleneagles win the St James's Palace StakesCredit: Charlie Crowhurst

Highland Chief is one of 109 foals from Gleneagles' debut crop. A total of 53 of his yearlings were sold across Europe last year, with that group averaging a price of 117,736gns.

If the early signs have been positive, there should be even better to come, including from his two most expensive yearlings. Topping the list is the 500,000gns filly out of Tarbela, bought by Blandford Bloodstock at Book 1 and since named Precious Moments, and the colt out of Lady Eclair who topped the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale at £380,000.

Signed for by Sackville Donald on behalf of King Power Racing, the colt has been named Mahanakhon Power.

There are also, according to Weatherbys' data, at least seven Gleneagles two-year-olds in training at Ballydoyle, including the as yet unnamed colt out of four-time Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn.

For anyone who may have missed out on securing a yearling by Gleneagles at last year's auctions, Mocklershill will offer two colts by the sire at next week's Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.

They are out of the Group 3-winning Eastern Appeal (lot 68) and Precious Dream (137), who were pinhooked for 150,000gns and 62,000gns respectively.