'He's a lovely colt' - Derby possible Highest Ground sparkles at Haydock
Highest Ground confirmed the promise of his debut win at Leicester last September with a comfortable success over the smart Waldkonig at Haydock.
The son of Frankel, who impressed despite a slow start on his debut last season, was sent off the 13-8 second favourite and, after tracking the front-running Waldkonig, cruised into the lead a furlong out to win by two and a half lengths.
Winning rider Ryan Moore said: "He's a lovely colt. I'd be very happy with what he did today, hopefully he's a proper colt."
The winner, who is owned by the Niarchos family, has long been held in high regard by connections, although a throat problem had delayed his return to the track this season.
Waldkonig had impressed with a nine-length strike at Wolverhampton in January, before finishing third in the Listed Newmarket Stakes on Guineas weekend. The pair drew 11 lengths clear of the third-placed Mersin.
Moore would not be drawn as to whether the Derby was next on the agenda, but Betfair cut the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt to 14-1 (from 25s) for the Epsom Classic.
Stoute is noted for his patient approach but Highest Ground could follow a similar path to Ulysses – he ran in the same silks – who won a maiden in May before contesting the Derby that June. He could only finish 11th in the 2016 Classic but scored twice at the top level as a four-year-old.
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Published on 24 June 2020inNews
Last updated 18:35, 24 June 2020
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