Highland peaking for Turf defence Aidan O'Brien believes Highland Reel is in peak condition for the defence of his crown in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar. The globetrotting five-year-old was a brilliant all-the-way winner of the mile-and-a-half contest 12 months ago to go with his previous Group One victories in the the King George at Ascot, the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin and the Arlington Million in Chicago. Highland Reel has arguably been better than ever this season, and stretched his top-level tally to six with victories in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was most recently seen finishing a creditable third behind Cracksman in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. O'Brien said: "At Ascot, Ryan (Moore) minded him. He kept him on the best ground and didn't hit him. "He needed to have a run before coming here because he'd had a little bit a setback after the King George, which meant the Arc came just too soon for him. "He's in good order. He has a good draw, he loves fast ground and loves a mile and a half. " Highland Reel always goes forward in his races and will do that on Saturday. "He doesn't mind bowling along, but he doesn't have to make the running. He won't mind going on himself if no one else is going to." Highland Reel is one of three runners for the Ballydoyle handler along with Epsom Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher and dual Group One-winning filly Seventh Heaven. O'Brien told At The Races: "Things haven't really worked out for him (Cliffs Of Moher) since the Derby. "He got badly hampered in the Eclipse, we made too much use of him at York and he got no luck in running at Leopardstown. The ground was the problem at Ascot last time, as he's a good-moving horse that just needs better ground than that. "He seems to have come out of that well and a sharp mile and a half on fast ground should really suit him. "The filly (Seventh Heaven) is going really well. She loves a mile and a half and loves fast ground. "Whether the track is going to be too tight for her or not, I'm not sure, but she's in a real good place." O'Brien has saddled a record six previous winners of the Turf - two more than Sir Michael Stoute, who relies upon Ulysses this year. The Galileo colt was only fourth at Santa Anita 12 months ago, but has certainly raised his game in 2017, striking Group One gold in the Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte International at York before finishing third behind Enable in the Arc. Stoute said: " He's an improving horse. Whether he's good enough to see off Highland Reel and the others, we will see. "I can see that his best form is over a mile and a quarter, although in the King George and Arc conditions were quite testing. "The horse will love the ground, although the track is quite tight, so he will need a bit of luck in the race." The only other British challenger in a 14-strong field is Roger Charlton's Decorated Knight, who has won three Group Ones this year, most recently the Irish Champion Stakes. Charlton said: "He's really well, in spite of a longish journey, during which we were hanging around a bit at Stansted. "Here at Del Mar there's a bustling business to the place, which contrasts to the beautiful countryside in which he is trained at Beckhampton, but the weather is much cooler than we expected, which is good for all the European horses "Happily, he seems very relaxed, while we've been wanting fast ground all year as he is such a good mover. "I thought he got the mile and a quarter very well at Leopardstown and there's every chance on that evidence of us getting the trip. "I think it would be wrong to underestimate him, as he's the only horse in the race that has won three Group Ones this year. "His rating has gone up and up, and he keeps delivering." Andre Fabre sends Talismanic from France, while the home team is headed by the Chad Brown-trained Beach Patrol.
