The English page - Classic winner from England

Dortmund last Sunday and our final classic of 2024. The sun came out and even though the ground rode officially good to soft we had a thrilling finish to the Group 3, Wettstar. de - 140 Deutsches St Leger. This 2800 m (1m 6f) event attracted two oversea's challengers in the George Scott trained Prydwen (Camelot) and Go Daddy (Smooth Daddy) from William Muir and Christy Grassick, and both would take home a good chunk of the prize money on offer.

Prydwen, who has come through the handicaps in England, though he did take up an engagement against Kyprios and co in the Group 1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup earlier in the season, avoided that company in Ireland this time and landed here the spoils but he had to dig deep and he was a willing partner for his jockey Callum Shepherd who was making his first ride in Germany a winning one. After a long stretch battle he just got the nod, a short head verdict, over an equally brave filly Tres Rock Women (Australia) under Michael Cadeddu. None of the two, jockeys or horses, flinched or gave an inch in a thrilling battle to the line. Unfortunately there can only be one winner and this time it was the English challenger. Go Daddy stayed on two lenghts behind them for third with Alessio in fourth. 

The Johanna and Hugo Körver-Gedachtnisrennen , the 52,000 € Sales Race went to Lady Sahara (Counterattack) who just held Sympathie (Make Believe), and Chava (Ulysses). One head and a short head separated these three two year old fillies and they could go on to better things. 

Over in Ireland in the Group 1 St Leger Kyprios was seen at his best to win the race for the second time whereby both the German runners Nastaria and Waldadler could not make any impact although both earned some nice prize money with Nastaria finishing the better placed in fifth. Im sure it was a great experience for two smaller German stables to actually have a runner in a Group 1 at the Curragh.. There was a German success on the day when the Andreas Suborics trained Best of Lips (The Gurkha) under Hugo Boutin took the Stockholm Cup where he held on by the minimum margin from the very fast finishing Hard One to Please. For the Stall Lintees winner, this was his third success at Group Level this year. 

In Hannover on the day, things did not all go to plan and their main sales race for three year olds had to be canceled. Though it was run and the favorite Glady's Tiger ran out a convincing winner, later after a long debate between the Stewards the starter and the jockey it was deemed to be a falsh start and some jockeys were not aware of the proceedings. Something we did see on the day though was a sparkling ride from the newest found talent on the German Racing scene this year, amature rider Nina Baltromei , and she has come into her own this year. Having her first ride in a Listed Race she got the winner Lazio (Make Believe) from the Waldemar Hickst Cologne yard to pick up at the furlong pole and win by an ever increasing half lenght margin. It was a good confident ride from someone with so little experience at this level as Lazio was not quick from the gates and was last entering the home straight but she did not panic and picked off the second Name Lord (Lord of England) inside the last 100 meters. Zauberkonig (Teofilio) the 2/1 favorite finished third. 

Looking forward to this weekend and when we talk of German Successes well alone if the Cologne race course Team can manage to attract half the entries they have for the Group 1 Mehl- Mulhens Stiftung - 62 Preis von Europa over the 2400m (1m 4F) distance it will be an achievement. For three year old and upwards, it has always always been a good race but this year it could be a very interesting race, although the King George winner Goliath was on thursday morning a late non-runner. But the Charlie Appleby trained Rebels Romance is number 4 in the world Rankings. He has won Group 1s in Sha - Tin and the Sheema Classic in Dubai as well as the Amir Trophy in Doha already in 2024, and is a five time Group 1 winner in all. 

Throw in is Erle (Reliable Man) the German Oaks winner and unbeaten as a three year old. Adrie de Vries takes over in the plate on the Gestut Rottgens runner who was Maxim Pecheur's first classic winner. Lordano (Adlerflug) an eight time winner from eleven starts and undoubtedly Germany's best stayer and possibly also the best of the older brigade at this trip in Germany will carry the hopes of  Gestut Ittlingen. Straight (Zarak) under a new trainer Marian Falk Weissmeier having left Andreas Wohler, will represent Gestut Karlshof though he must improve. However Trevaunance (Muhaarar) will represent Ireland , Jessica Harrington and the Moyglare Stud. She ran second in this last year behind India and comes here on the back of a good second in the Group 2 Prix de Pomone in Deauville in August. Alone these entries make for an intriquing contest but it gets better with Liberty Racings 2024 Derby winner Palladium (Gleneagles) having been supplemented at the last minute. Good Luck Cologne and may we have a cracking race. 

Shannon Spratter