The English page - The Derby winner in Munich

It was all a bit quieter last weekend in Germany, racing in Bad Harzburg kept the show on the road with two valuable Handicaps on Saturday, one of which went to the owner trained Dutch Soller Bay (Iffraaj) who has won his last 3 starts in Germany while Viviane (Lucky Lion) took the other one for the Gallop Club Bremen and Pavel Vovcenko. On the Friday evening Sarah Steinberg sent her consistent Runnymede (Dansili) to Vichy in France to contest the Listed Prix Jaques de Bermond over 1600 meters. With stable jockey Rene Piechulek on board, he again ran creditably to finish second to the Damien de Wadtrigant trained God Blessing (Siyouni) in the six-horse field.

The main race over the weekend was the Fürstenberg Rennen on Sunday in Berlin Hoppegarten. The 2400 meters Group III event attracted nine runners including the 5-year-old filly India (Adlerflug), last year’s winner, who was sent off a hot favorite under Andrasch Starke for owner Gestüt Ittlingen and trainer Waldemar Hickst. It would lead to a controversial finish and plenty to debate about after this race.

Everything went to plan from the start boxes with the renowned front runner Kolossal (Outstrip), herself a Group III winner last time out in Milan, setting off in front and India taking up a good position like last year in second place, followed by the polish Derby winner Westminster Moon (Sea the Moon) and Only the Brave (Iffraaj) sitting in behind them as Quality Road (Areion) and Waldadler (Adlerflug) dropped out last in a compact field. Kolossal and Jockey Wladimir Panow were allowed to dictate their own pace and it was only on entering the straight that India was asked to go join the leader as these two pulled away from the field and the race developed into a match. India headed Kolossal at the 300-meter mark, but Kolossal proved a hard nut to crack and fought tenaciously on the rails. India always looked to be travelling that tick better and 100 meter out she had gone nearly ½ length up on her opponent but with 50 meter to run she veered inwards and into Kolossal who had to be snatched up violently and even though India crossed the line 2 ¼ lengths in front of the second immediately one heard the siren, and the stewards were to intervene. Having. deliberated for a short period it was announced India had been disqualified by the stewards and Kolossal deemed the winner. Personally, and everyone will have a view to the decision, I found it again remarkable this outcome under the new rules.

Now it did look very bad the interference but that in the opinion of the stewards Kolossal would have won without the incident, I find very hard to believe. Honestly, I think India was best on the day. It was a major error from Champion Jockey Andrasch Starke, but I think he´d be the first to admit that. It was also hard for Starke who was hit with a four-Raceday ban and will miss the Henkel Preis der Diana (the German Oaks), on the 6th of August and the Großer Preis von Berlin on the 15th, both Group I events.

This weekend all eyes will be on Munich and the return of Sarah Steinberg´s Derby Hero Fantastic Moon (Sea the Moon) in the Großer Dallmayr-Preis - Bayrisches Zuchtrennen. Word from the stable is, their star is in super form, has put his Derby effort behind him and should be in his element back at the 2000-meter trip. This week he was given an entry for the Irish Champion Stakes in September so if it is to be realized then he will have to beat this field comprehensively. There are certainly no easy Group I races but if he is to take on Europes elite, this must be in his grasps.

What had looked like being an extra competitive Dallmayr has cut up quite badly, but we still have Godolphins Nations Pride (Teofilio) who is a 7-time winner including two times at top level in Aqueduct and Saratoga last year. He was also 3rd beaten less than a length by Lord North in the Dubai Turf on his last start at the end of March this year.

Sammarco (Camelot) who, if he can refind his form from last year which included wins in the Derby and this race the Dallmayr, could be a big danger and is reunited with Jockey Adrie de Vries. Skalleti (Kendargent) from Jerome Reynier travels from France and although he is now and 8 years old, he did win this in 2021 and was successful last time out in a Group II company in Rome. The field will be completed by Petit Marin (Flamingo Fantasy) with Andrasch Starke and the Andreas Suborics pair Best Lighting (Sidestep) and Best of Lips (The Gurkha). Stable Jockey Martin Seidl rides Best of Lips while Thore Hammer-Hansen takes the ride on Best Lightning.

On the under card, we have the Listed Dallmayr Coupe Lukull (David Conolly - Smith Memorial) over 1400 meters for 3-year-old and upwards fillies. The 10 strong field include two French trained runners Kimi Orenda (Bated Breath) for Christoph Ferland and Maliparmi (Ribchester) from Jerome Reynier who was a good second behind Muskova in Dusseldorfs Listed Henkel Stutenpreis last time. Sunset Lane and Dishina, both Soldier Holllow fillies, are the highest rated of the Home Brigade. 

Shannon Spratter