Highest Ground looks another star for the Top 40

Sir Michael Stoute may have drawn a blank from his seven runners at Royal Ascot last week but the former champion trainer appears to have another potential top notch three year old in Highest Ground. Featured in the Top 40 Prospects, the son of Frankel had looked useful when making a winning debut at Leicester last Autumn. Reportedly held up during the spring due to a throat infection, the Niarchos Family owned colt made his reappearance in a ten furlongs novice stakes at Haydock on Wednesday. Despite taking on the well touted Waldkonig, who had finished third in a Listed event at Newmarket earlier in the month, he maintained his 100% record with a two and a half lengths victory under Ryan Moore. Much quicker into stride compared to his juvenile run, he stayed on strongly to beat John Gosden's runner with something in hand. Quoted for the Epsom Derby afterwards, it remains to be seen whether that will come too soon. Stoute doesn't usually rush his horses and it will be a surprise if he heads to Flat racing's Blue Riband in ten days later. Either way, Highest Ground is a colt to really look forward to and very much one to follow.