The English page - Derby Day

This week we have decided to change away from the norm and look more forward rather than back. Now we did have the pompous and Royal occasion of the Ascot meeting last week in England and it produced a first win for newly crowned King Charles and wife Camilla when Desert Hero took the King George V Stakes. Frankie Dettori won a 9th Gold Cup in his last season, Hollie Doyle became the first female rider to win a Gr 1 race at the Royal Meeting and Aidan O Brien and Ryan Moore topped the trainers and jockey tables respectively at the end of the week.

But we want to look in detail at Germany´s most important race, our Blue Ribbon, the Derby in Hamburg Horn next Sunday.

The meeting got underway last Sunday with a nine-race card, the highlight being the Hamburger Stuten Cup a listed race over 2200 meters on the first Day. With 14 fillies going to post including 4 foreign fillies, expectantly Greym (The Grey Gatsby) from French Trainer Henri-Alex Pantall´s stable was sent off favorite, following a good second place in the Preis der Hotellerie in Baden-Baden. It was not to be though for the filly, and she finished back in 7th. It would be another French Runner, the impeccably bred Alpenblume (Kendargent) who would take the honors. This half-sister to Arc heroine Alpinista (Frankel) running in the same owners colours, those of Kirsten Rausing was an easy winner for young Chantilly trainer Tim Donworth. She was followed home by Ability (Mastercraftsman) and a good finishing Derida (Reliable Man). But looking forward we will have on Saturday, the Wettstar Großer Hansa-Preis, a Group II contest over 2400 meters. It looks like being a small field but still quite interesting with the likes of Northern Ruler, Sammarco, Sisfahan, Assistent and Aff un Zo clashing here.

On Derby Day, apart from the Derby itself, there will be the Hamburger Stuten Mile, a Group III over 1600 meters for 3 years and older fillies and the Hamburger Stuten Preis, another fillies race for 3 year olds only over 2200 meters, this race being the new target for Kassada (Sea the Moon) after connections have decided not to supplement her for the Derby and run here instead as a lead up to the German Oaks.

So to the Derby!

The big news this week come from Champion trainer Peter Schiergen´s stable when he gave the disappointing news that Alpenjäger (Nutan) the choice mount of Sybille Vogt had injured himself and would not line up in Sundays Derby. Personally, this was my choice for the Derby if any rain was to fall in Horn, so very unfortunate.

The Derby field

1 Straight (Zarak): The highest rated runner in the field and Derby favorite. One of three runners from Andreas Wöhlers in form stable and mount of stable Jockey Eduardo Pedroza. Cemented his place at the top of the market with a win in the most important trial, the Union in Köln beating Mr. Hollywood, Nachtgeist and Napolitano plus 6 other Deby runners. It was a very fast run Union and a top performance for a very green horse, he has only had 3 runs. Question is, was the Union overpaced? But clear is, he is a worthy favorite. I will think especially if we have good ground though he also won over 1800 meters in Baden- Baden as a 2-year-old on soft to heavy. For those who are superstitious, unfortunately he drew the number 8 start box from which no horse has ever won the Derby.

2 Mr. Hollywood (Iquitos): The Derby favorite up till the Union, the Gestüt Ammerland bred colt has done nothing wrong all season. He won his maiden at the start of April in Muelheim by an incredible 16 lengths and a month later took the Bavarian Classic Group III by an easy 3 ½ lengths, in the process beating Alpenjager and Fantastic Moon with Skylo and Merkur well beaten, Both races were on heavy ground though and he got overturned on fast ground by Straight in the Union although he still ran very, very creditably. Any rain will be a big help for this fellow. His form is consistent and on good to soft he´d be my first choice.

3 Fantastic Moon (Sea the Moon): His form is as good as any horses in the Derby over 2000 meters. The Munich trained colt has won 3 of his 4 starts and was only beaten by Mr. Hollywood in the Bavarian Classic on his seasonal reappearance. He followed that up in Baden Baden with an easy 4 length win from Vintage Moon and Derby favorite Straight (Seasonal Debut) and he wasn’t stopping at the finish in the Group III event over 2000 meters. He has the class and it’s a question of will he stay an extra 400 meters in a Derby. You´d think he should, being by Sea the Moon out of a Jukebox Jury mare by Lomitas. If he settles and gives himself the chance to stay the trip be can most definitely be involved in the finish and maybe, make Sarah Steinberg the first woman trainer to win the Derby.

4 Nachtgeist (Highland Reel): His rating rocketed from 73 – 92 GAG after his run in the Union where this 4 race maiden finished his race off as good as any, to finish third 6 lengths behind Straight and 1 ¼ behind Mr. Hollywood. A reproduction or improvement could see him a serious contender. Will definitely stay.

5 Winning Spirit (Soldier Hollow): Had a good 2-year-old season winning twice including a Listed race in Milan, he rounded it off with a good 3rd place in the Herzog Ratibor Rennen Group III. This season he won a Listed race in Milan over 2200 meters on seasonal debut and bettered that with a second place in the Italian Derby, form which was enhanced when the winner Goldenas went on to finish 2nd in the Gran Premio d´Milano against the older horses. He has won on all ground from good to heavy and stays. After the defection from Alpenjäger, he is the mount of Sibylle Vogt who could become first female jockey to win our Derby.

6 Napolitano (Australia): To me he still looks a big, unfurnished horse but he will definitely stay and made the running in the Union staying on one paced to finish fourth. Seems to handle all types of ground but better suited with a cut, he will have the assistance of Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, 4 times German Champion and looking for back to back wins in the Derby having won last year on Sammarco. Ridden a little bit differently from the perfect draw in box 4 he must play a leading role.

7 Pivotal Trigger (Pivotal): The first of the foreign trained horses. Trained in Ireland by Mrs. Jessica Harrington was Group III placed in Longchamp as a 2-year-old and subsequently thought good enough to run in the Group I Quatar Prix Jean-Luc Legardere and though he finished last of seven there, he was only beaten 6 lengths. Has won on his only outing this year a six runner conditions race in Roscommon. With stable Jockey Shane Foley out injured, Oisin Orr gets the leg up.

8 Skylo (Postponed): Won his maiden in Cologne first time up this year and after finished a well beaten 4th in the Bavarian Classic. Ran 5th under Lanfranco Dettori in the Union after forcing the pace with Napolitano. Robert Havlin takes the ride this time.

9 See Paris (Counterattack): One of the leading 2-year-olds from last season takes a massive step up in trip from the mile to mile and a half for the first time. Outsider.

10 Vintage Moon (Sea the Moon): An unbeaten 2-year-old when winning a maiden in Mulheim and the 100.000€ Auction race in Baden Baden. Ran a cracking race to split Fantastic Moon and Straight in the Baden Baden Derby Trial but then ran poorly in the Union. First ride in the Derby for young talent Sean Byrne. A reproduction of the Baden Baden form could get him involved.

11 Sirjan (Zarak): By the same sire as Straight and comes from the same stable. Has won a Group III in Rome but would have to improve here. Third choice from the Andreas Wöhler stable and not the choice of any of his to stable Jockeys.

12 Merkur (Kingsman): Upped his game to win the Duesseldorf – Derby Trial last time out beating Quality Road in fine fashion but will need to improve again which is not unthinkable though especially on faster ground.

13 Aspirant (Protectionist): Has being running constantly in the trails but needs to find 6/7 lengths with the top horses. His biggest plus is that he has winning most Derby Jockey Andrasch Starke in saddle. He has already won the Derby 8 times.

14 If Not Now (Ifraaj): The English representative. Has won 2 of his 3 starts in England, the last one a handicap in Sandown Park over 2000 meters. Trained by Ralph Beckett and will be ridden by Hector Crouch. Needs to up his game to beat Germany´s best.

15 Weracruz (Cracksman): The only filly in the race she won 2 of her first 3 starts and had an unlucky passage when making ground in the Union where she had to settle for 7th place. Has shown some useful form, should stay and seems to act on all conditions. She could surprise some of her male colleagues.

16 Lips Freedom (Free Eagle): Finished a good 5 length behind Winning Spirit when finishing 5th of 12 in the Italian Derby the first time she was upped in trip. 2nd to Alpenjäger in the Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen last year beating Winning Spirit, Sea Paris and Aspirant. Could outrun the 40/1 odds.

17 Quality Road (Areion): Runs in the colours of last year’s winner Sammarco, Helmut von Fink colt finished second to Merkur in Duesseldorf last time out but needs to improve.

18 Saint Cloud (Amaron): The third starter from Henk Grewe stable, Outsider who needs to improve on all known form but ran OK in Baden Baden last time.

19 Wales (Camelot): The only horse in the field who has won over the full Derby distance of 2400 meters. Won well in Hannover last time and if there is to be a surprise this could be it. An attractive colt he´s hardened and stays well and has come to hand at the right time.

20 I fight for Lips (Ulysses): Scraped into the Derby field at the last minute. Would be a big surprise.

So who wins the Derby? Straight and Mr. Hollywood are obvious choices but Fantastic Moon could ruffle them if he settles and can see out the trip. I like Wales as an outsider and Napolitano if ridden differently as in the Union. From here we wish all Owners, Trainers, Breeders, Jockeys and Grooms the Best of Luck in the Derby and that all horses come back safe and sound.

Shannon Spratter