Al Pike Retiring from Highlander Training Center, Colin Brennan to Take Reins

[Wandering Eyes]

Al Pike is set to retire from his position as director of sales and the conditioner for 2-year-olds in-training at Highland Training Center, and will be replaced by Colin Brennan after the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in May ends, the center announced via press release.

While Pike will be retiring to Lexington, Kentucky with Brennan making the move to Texas, Pike will continue to work with Highlander in a consulting and advisory role. The retiring director and training began his career with horses in 1978 but eventually transitioned to a fruitful pinhooking career. Pike has sold three juveniles who went on to race in the GI Kentucky Derby–MGSW & MGISP Vyjack (Into Mischief), who earned north of $1.4-million in his career; MGSW Vicar's In Trouble (Into Mischief), winner of over $1.3-million; and MGSP Frammento (Midshipman).

In 2016, he sold Modest Maven (Uncle Mo)–whom he had purchased for $80,000–for a million to Chester Broman, and she would go on to noteworthy success as a broodmare via her sons, SP Overstep (Into Mischief), who sold to Repole and St Elias Stables for $360,000 as a KEESEP yearling, and SW & MGSP Arctic Arrogance (Frosted), who was retained by the Bromans to race in their colors. Pike has also sold 2023 G3 UAE Oaks victress Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) and Hong Kong multimillionaire, Group 1-placed Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit). His most recent success story is the evergreen Louisiana-bred GSW Touchuponastar (Star Guitar), who got his start with Pike Racing. Pike came to Highlander in 2023 to focus on developing their 2-year-olds in-training program.

“The people here at Highlander have been amazing to work with,” said Pike. “I can't thank them enough. And I can't think of a better person than Colin Brennan to come in and continue what we've started.”

Colin Brennan hails from a horse family as the son of Niall Brennan, and who grew up in the sales ring. He holds degrees in Equine Business Management, Equine Anatomy, and Exercise Physiology, Brennan is also a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program (known as Darley Flying Start program when was admitted in 2012). He's worked for Niall Brennan Stables, Bill Mott, and Mike Ryan, and with horses like Essential Quality, Mystic Guide, and Nyquist.

Brennan will take over the sales position in time for the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling Sale Aug. 10-11, which will be the first time where there is will be a 'Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center' consignment. It will be followed by the Texas Yearling sale Aug. 26 and the Keeneland September sale, where Highlander will be represented by a consignment under its own banner for the first time.

“This is a huge opportunity,” Brennan said. “…[it's] the sort of opportunity a young horseman dreams about. Highlander is a first-class facility and this is a program that I'll be proud to represent.”

“Colin is just the guy to take what Al has built and grow it into something even better, said Highlander's chairman and CEO, Jeff Hooper. “I'm very excited that we will be represented by Colin Brennan at Highlander consignments at major sales across the country, starting with the New York-bred sale at Saratoga, the Texas Thoroughbred Yearling sale, and the Keeneland September sale. I see a very bright future for Highlander.”

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