Highland Reel the biggest earner because he was not the very best

Highland Reel signed off with a glorious victory in the Hong Kong Vase, meaning he goes to stud as the winner of seven top-level races and having earned £7,513,355 in prize-money, more than any European-trained horse in history.

However, for all Highland Reel's courage and constitution earned him the moniker of 'iron horse' from Seamie Heffernan, in terms of latent talent he doesn't compare to the best that have been at Ballydoyle. And it is probably as a consequence of falling below the absolute elite that he has been allowed to race for four seasons, rather than being whisked off to stud at an earlier stage. It is to the Coolmore partners' credit – and to the benefit of racing – that Highland Reel has been set such ambitious targets, racing in seven different countries, with 13 of his 27 starts coming in countries other than Britain and Ireland.

They have been rewarded for such an ambitious programme, with Highland Reel retiring to stud as a record-breaker renowned for being tough, consistent and physically robust.