Highland Chief (IRE)

Highland Chief started to find his best form as a 3-year-old. The Irish-bred son of Gleneagles was stakes-placed three times in England in 2020, including a second-place finish by three-quarters of a length in the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 30. He raced just once as a 4-year-old, finishing fifth in the Group 1 Coral Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 4.

For his 5-year-old season, Highland Chief was shipped to the United States and placed in the barn of trainer Graham Motion. He made his North American debut in a second-level allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct on April 14, 2022, and was a non-threatening ninth.

Off that performance, Highland Chief was a 19.20-1 outsider in the Grade 1 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park on May 14. However, he pulled off a shocking upset over reigning Breeders' Cup Turf winner Yibir. That was the first Grade 1 win in the career of his jockey, Trevor McCarthy. 

Highland Chief followed up his breakthrough win with two fourth-place finishes in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes June 11 at Belmont and the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes July 31 at Saratoga. He was then rested until Oct. 14, when he returned in a competitive running of the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland. With John Velazquez riding for the first time, Highland Chief saved ground in the 1 ½-mile race and spurted clear in midstretch to win going away.

Highland Chief is owned and bred by Fitriani Hay and is out of the Group 3-winning Montjeu mare Pink Symphony.