Son Of Gleneagles Takes Grade 1 Man O’War Stakes

Highland Chief (5h Gleneagles - Pink Symphony, by Montjeu) provided Gleneagles with further top-level success when beating a talented field in the Grade 1 Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park.

Saturday saw the lightly-raced bay make his second start for Graham Motion, having previously been Group-placed in the UK on a number of occasions for Paul and Oliver Cole. Chasing the leader under Trevor McCarthy, he was shaken up to lead a furlong and a half from home and stayed on well to score by a length, as two previous Grade 1 winners chased him home.

“He was very game today,” the winning trainer later commented, adding that a trip to Royal Ascot could be on the cards, with the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes also an option.

Owned and bred by Mrs Fitri Hay, Highland Chief is the highest achiever produced by the Group 3-winning Montjeu mare Pink Symphony. Saturday’s Grade 1 success marks a bright start to the season for Gleneagles, who was responsible for 11 Stakes winners in 2021, including Group 1 winner Loving Dream.