Gleneagles Colt Defies Top Weight At Royal Ascot

Highland Chief (3c Gleneagles - Pink Symphony, by Montjeu) produced an impressive performance when carrying top weight to victory in Thursday’s Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Mrs Fitri Hay’s homebred provided Gleneagles with his very first winner on debut last season, and went on to finish third in the Listed Chesham Stakes. Father and son training team Paul and Oliver Cole stepped the colt up to ten furlongs on his three-year-old return, with Rossa Ryan giving the bay a patient ride towards the back of the field. Making good headway approaching the final furlong, he kept on strongly to win by half a length, with another two and a quarter lengths back to the favourite in third.

A delighted Oliver Cole commented after the race, “It's an amazing occasion and a great race they've put on. Highland Chief's always been very good.”

A return to black-type company is now on the cards for Highland Chief, who may be targeted at the Epsom Derby. He becomes a second Royal Ascot winner from the first crop of Gleneagles, with Southern Hills having captured last year’s Windsor Castle Stakes.