HIGHLAND Reel (27, pace adjusted 36) showed really good acceleration to win by 12 lengths at Gowran Park in early July. His smart turn of foot was again in evidence when he scuttled clear of his rivals in the closing stages of the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last week.

To my eye Highland Reel’s action looked rather scratchy in the closing stages, so I’m thinking he was not liking the firm ground very much. There are some pretty good indications that his two siblings liked easier surfaces in Australia. In the long run I expect he will too.

My ratings suggest Highland Reel is just a little shy of Group 1 standard at this stage. However it’s too early to be sure. I’d like to see what he could do in a more strongly-run race, especially on softer ground. A longer distance wouldn’t do any harm either.

Highland Reel clearly has plenty of speed to outpace useful rivals in the closing stages of a sprint where the early pace was moderate. He still looks more a middle distance prospect though.

The logical thing now would be to take up Highland Reel’s entry in the Futurity Stakes. He’d have a good chance there on this run and his performance would inform future plans.

Over at Galway, another two-year-old to impress was Legatissimo (24, pace adjusted 33), who produced a serious turn of foot to win a hot maiden for two-year-old fillies over seven furlongs.

The field passed the two-furlong marker 2.97secs later than in the handicap over the same distance. From there the pace picked up markedly. Despite the uphill finish the fillies finished the last quarter mile in just 24.33secs compared with 25.99secs for the handicap.

Gaining ground into a pace that has accelerated so sharply is hard but Legatissimo picked up in style, gaining four lengths to zip past the runner up who would have been a clear cut winner in her absence.

Legatissimo had to be rowed along when the pace began to quicken intitially. However she only needed to be ridden along with hands and heels to make her big finishing run when stamina started to be a big factor. This being so, it looks likely she can improve on what was already a pattern class performance. She’s a good-bodied sort who looks built and bred for a mile and a half.

This year I think Legatissimo’s best shot of group race success will be over a mile as she’s clearly a stayer. However there’s a good chance seven furlongs will be enough off a stronger gallop, or on softer ground. Next year it would be a logical move to supplement her for the Oaks and Irish Oaks.

Runner-up Tamadhor (23, pace adjusted 32) was unlucky to come up against a potential Group 1 winner on her debut. She kicked away from the rest in impressive fashion but was mowed down late by Legatissimo.

Tamadhor is more of a miler on pedigree and physique. She’d be a hot favourite to win a maiden next time and looks a good prospect for pattern races.

Sticking with Galway, Dermot Weld’s three-year-old filly Brooch (28, pace adjusted 37) looked potentially top-class in winning a maiden over the extended mile. He often saves up some of his very best prospects for the maiden races run at the Festival.

For most of the race Brooch lolloped along on the wide outside in a close third. As the pace quickened approaching the three-furlong marker it became apparent she was moving a good deal better than her rivals. They were all being ridden along while she continued to cruise.

As the field met the rising ground just after the three-furlong pole, Pat Smullen nudged Brooch along and she soon asserted, stretching further and further clear to score by nearly 10 lengths.

Smullen only had to keep Brooch up to her work to win very comfortably, easing up in the final strides.

Brooch is a pretty tall, rather leggy filly who looks built for middle distances. I’d say 10 furlongs would be her natural distance but wouldn’t discount her chances of staying further. On this run she will have no trouble winning a listed race and could well prove top-class.

Seeing that she’s still leggy halfway through her three-year-old season, I can see why Brooch hasn’t run before. She’s obviously a late developer. For this reason I hope she’s kept in training next year. She could prove really special when she’s had more time to grow.