THE international element of modern thoroughbred racing has never have been better demonstrated than by the exploits of Highland Reel this season.

The son of Galileo began his three-year-old season in Longchamp in the French Guineas last May, he then took in the French Derby at Chantilly where he was second to a good horse in New Bay. Then it was the Irish Derby at the Curragh where he sweated up badly, before heading to Glorious Goodwood for his first win of the season and off to the USA in August to win the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes in a downpour.