The English page - British dominance in the Guineas

Last Sunday saw our second Classic of the season run in Dusseldorf. The Wempe 104. German 1000 Guineas saw thirteen 3-year-old fillies take their chance on soft ground over 1600 meters (1mile) on the Grafenberg track. The Kevin Phillippart de Foy trained English filly Rochelle was a non-runner from the original 14 declared, and no less than four fillies still made the trip from the British Isles including Darnation (Too Darn Hot) the 36/10 favorite for the event from the Karl Burke Spigot Lodge Yorkshire stables. Shagara (Zarak) on form looked best of the home team but the England fillies were always going to be hard to beat here and exactly so it proved. It was also a race that was almost won from the start boxes, with the first three placed horses always travelling at the head of the field and really nothing else ever got into the race from behind. 

As in her last successful start in Germany the English Queues Likely (Massaat) hit the gates best of all and her jockey Billy Loughnane let her stride to the front, she was followed by the also good starting Geologist and Darnation also both English then Three Havanas, Waldfriede and Emily from the home team whereby Shagara and Lady Mary the more fancied horses in the betting sat in the middle or more to the end of the field. The fractions were good, a good pace was set and there would be no place to hide. Half of the field were already beaten as Queues Likely upped the tempo again turning for home, where Geologist fell away leaving the favorite Darnation under Adrie de Vries tracking the front runner with Three Havanas and Emily hot on their heels. At the 300-meter mark Three Havanas threw down a strong challenge and for a few seconds you could dream of a German victory, but it was not to be. At the 150-meter mark, de Vries set the favorite into top gear, and she flew past Queues Likely to run out a 2 ¼ length winner from the afore mentioned, who battled very gamely to hold off Three Havanas (Havana Grey) by a nose with Emely another Too Darn Hot daughter securing the fourth spot. This was a top ride by the very experienced Adrie de Vries, who kept it simple, not complicating things, jumping the favorite good out of the gates, followed a horse that would lead you to the furlong pole, pull out and set sail for home. It was also an exceptional Day for winning trainer Karl Burke, who over in the Curragh, Ireland, would also land the Irish equivalent with the filly Fallen Angel. Two 1000 Guineas in one day was an awesome feat and so unfortunately like the 2000 Guineas, the fillies classic also went to England. 

On the same card the Duesseldorf- Merkur Spielbanken Derby trial over 2200 meters (1m 3f) saw a win for Wintertraum (Lord of England). The Waldemar Hickst trained, Michal Abik ridden colt proved 3 ½ lengths too good for Any Moon (Sea the Moon) with Stingray (Zarek) a neck away in third. All three could now head for the big one in Hamburg. 

Looking forward then to the coming week and Baden – Baden kicks off on Thursday with three days of very competitive racing and in between on the Friday, a mixed sale including a Breeze up. The Saturday highlights include the Japan Racing Association Derby Trial over 2000 meters (1m 2f) of Group III status and the Listed Tattersalls Diana Trial or Oaks Trial over 1800 meters (1m1f). Then on Sunday we have the Group II Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft and the Listed Casino Baden – Baden Silberne Peitsche.

The Derby Trail on Saturday has attracted 8 colts with Columbus (Oasis Dream) making the journey from France for trainer Christophe Ferland. He won in Deauville on his only start at two and has been placed third on both his starts this year in Chantilly and Longchamp. Augustin Madamet will take the mount. Wilko (Mastercraftsman) winner of the Bavarian Classic on his last start reappears here and looks the one to beat. The Henk Grewe colt had Augustus and Germiniano back in fifth and sixth when taking that race in Munich and Leon Wolff retains the ride. The biggest danger to Wilko could be New Emerald with Andrasch Starke as he won well on his first start this year and bettered that with a good second in the Dr. Busch Memorial Group III behind Maigret. The Diana Trail is an all-German affair and the likes of Hope and Believe (Andreas Woehler), Liefland (Sascha Smrczek) and Noble Breath (Sarah Steinberg) are all nicely bred fillies who won their maidens well. Sunshine Girl and Teresa Mendoza were successful at two, whereas the rest of the candidates go into this as maidens albeit Saman won last time at the smaller Hassloch track. Nine fillies will go to post. 

On Sunday the Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft, Group II, over 2200 meters (1m3f) has attracted 8 runners and it looks another good opportunity for the Marcel Weiss trained, Gestuet Ittlingen owned Lordano (Adlerflug). Considered a real stayer he beat most of these when dropping back to 1 ½ miles in the Carl Jaspers Preis, Gr. II, in Cologne and even though he goes back another furlong he could still be quick enough for them as rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday in Baden – Baden which suits this horse. It will be no pushover though with Mr Hollywood, Napolitano, the fresh Group III Italian winner Best of Lips, Tunnes, Petit Marin and Straight all in there and all are capable on their day. The 7-year-old Mansour is tough as old boots and loves Baden–Baden. A race of real interest. 

The Casino Baden–Baden Silberne Peitsche sees Zerostress take his place and if he runs the Baden track like he did in the Goldene Peitsche last year, he would be hard to beat. Danelo beat most of this field first time out this year when successful in a Listed race in Hannover including Zerostress but the straight six-furlong track in not always to every horses liking. 

One that could be interesting is the Andreas Suborics trained 3-year-old West Man, as he has often run to keenly over 1400 meters (7f) in the past and this straight six could be more to his liking. Celebrity Iron is a 3-year-old filly from Florian Guyader´s French stable and looks the only possible foreign runner.

Shannon Spratter