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US Grade 1 winner and Royal Ascot scorer Highland Chief will stand at Annshoon Stud in Kilkenny for 2026, having moved from Arvez Farm in France.

The son of Gleneagles was his sire's first winner when successful at Newbury as a juvenile in April 2019 and was also third to subsequent champion two-year-old Pinatubo in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole, the Fitri Hay homebred won the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot on his first start at three and also collected Group placings in the Gordon, Great Voltigeur and Cumberland Lodge Stakes.

He subsequently transferred to Graham Motion in America and landed his career highlight in the Grade 1 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont as a five-year-old. He also won the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland that autumn.

On acquiring the horse, Michael Shefflin of Annshoon Stud said: "He came up on the radar because the farm was closing down. Gleneagles is in a good place, having sired the Japan Cup winner, and he produces distance-type horses, while there aren't really any sons of Gleneagles at stud for dual-purpose or jumping.

"He's out of a Montjeu mare and is a Grade 1 winner, while he was also placed in a few Group races in England as well. He's a fine-looking horse with plenty of scope, so why not? He's very correct and a very nice horse."

Highland Chief will stand for a fee of €2,500 and resides alongside champion sprinter and Group-winning sire Twilight Son.

Shefflin added of the eight-year-old: "He's just arrived and will be fit for viewings during the Irish Stallion Trail [from January 16-17]."

Get in Touch

Questions about our horses or training? Reach out anytime—we’re here to help.

Phone

+353 87 978 6428

Email

contact@annshoonstud.ie

Location

Annshoon Studis nestled in the heart of County Kilkenny, surrounded by rolling green pastures.

Address

Annshoon Stud, Ballinclea, Mullinavat, Kilkenny

Hours

Mon-Sun 7am-7pm