The English page - Große Woche at Baden-Baden

We are now halfway through the “grosse Woche” at Baden-Baden, Germany´s most important race meeting of the year. Although it would be fair to say that the meeting so far has been relatively low key, with only a couple of good races and a lot of poor ones, this weekend´s racing is something to look forward to, with strong fields and very competitive racing with a lot of runners from abroad, especially from the U.K.

The two main events on the first day, last Saturday, were both won by outsiders. First, the BBAG sales race for three-year-olds over 2400 metres went to Queen Josephine (Soldier Hollow),who finished very strongly to get up close home and score by a neck and a head from Andoro (Jukebox Jury) and La Pradera (Wiesenpfad). Andoro looked like winning easily two out, but faded in the final stages and was probably feeling the exertions of his two previous runs in hot Group One races. Queen Josephine was not only the longest outsider in the field, paying over 50-1, but also the cheapest yearling purchase at just 5,000 euros. She was bred by Gestüt Park Wiedingen and must be regarded as a bargain, as Soldier Hollow now costs 30,000 euros and the dam´s family is also decent. She is trained in Munich by Michael Figge, who also owns a half-share and admitted as well to have had ten euros each way; “I thought she had no chance, but when I saw the odds, I had to support her. We have always liked her and will now look for another sales race or possibly a listed”

Andoro had on his previous start run in the Grosser Preis von Berlin and after disputing the lead for much of the way, finally dropped out to finish last. Second last in that race was Darius Racing´s French-bred Alounak  (Camelot), who had been fourth three weeks earlier in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis. Trainer Waldemar Hickst was not keen to bring him out again so soon after these two tough races, but the owner wanted to run, with happy results as after a ding-dong battle with front-running Be My Sheriff (Lawman), Alounak, a 14-1 shot,  got up in the very last stride to win the Group Three Preis der Sparkasse Finanzgruppe and win by a short head. Alounak had been a promising three-year-old last year but an injury aborted his classic hopes, and this was a welcome return to form. He is now getting a well-deserved break, we could see him again in the autumn.

Sunday´s big race was the Group Two Goldene Peitsche over 1200 metres, Germany´s top spring with its famous owner´s trophy of a golden whip. The Germans are not strong over this trip and indeed there have only been four local winners of the race this century. Hopes were high this time, as Waldpfad (Shamardal) and Namos (Medicean), both Brümmerhof-bred and both trained by Germany´s “spring king” Dominik Moser, lined up with smart form over this trip. But they faced a tough opponent in the English-trained and Irish-bred Royal Intervention (Exceed and Excel) and this three-year-old filly, jointly owned and bred by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Will Farish, also had some strong performances to her credit. In addition, the fast ground was exactly what she wanted and she made all running to record an easy win. Trainer Ed Walker would like to win a Group One with her and the Prix de la Foret is now a possible target, although the extra furlong is probably not ideal. Waldpfad was slowly away and took some time to get into his stride, but ran on strongly from the rear to go clear second, while Big Boots (Society Rock) just held Namos for third place. Waldpfad, who clearly needs cut in the ground, is entered in Haydock´s Group One Sprint Cup and could well run into the money there if the ground comes up soft.  

The other big race on Sunday was the valuable BBAG sales race for two-year-old fillies, and was won by the favourite, the Swedish-bred Alison, who showed a fine burst of speed at the business end of the race to win by a length from the Karlshof pair La La Land (Outstrip) and No Limit Credit (Night of Thunder), who had disputed the lead for most of the way. Although bred in Sweden, Alison has a German pedigree and continued her sire Areion´s fine run with juveniles; she is a full sister to Cabarita, who won the same race in 2017. This is a speedy family but some of them have failed to train on. Alison is entered in the Preis der Winterkönigin at the October meeting here and one must hope that she continues to improve.

The midweek racing here was less inspiring. Wednesday´s listed Coolmore Stud Baden-Baden Cup for fillies and mares was another race won by an outsider, Gestüt Höny-Hof´s homebred Wish You Well, anozher black type winner for her sire Soldier Hollow. She paid almost 26-1 after coming with a late rin to cut down the longtime leader Viva Gloria (Reliable Man) in the final furlong to win by half a length.

There is much better racing in store at the weekend, where fields on both Saturday and Sunday are strong; both days have two group races. Main feature on Saturday is the T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis, a Group Two for fillies and mares over 2400 metres. Six three-year-olds, an age group with an excellent record here, face four older runners including Shailene (Rip van Winkle), trained in England by Andrew Balding for big American owner George Strawbridge. She won a listed race in Milan, but is up in class here and this opposition is much stronger than anything she has so far faced. Three of the three-year-olds ran last time in the Preis der Diana, where Durance (Champs Elysees), who started favourite, was a close third, a nose in front of Satomi (Teofilo), with Apadanah (Holy Roman Emperor), who blew her chances at the start. There is not much between these three – assuming they get off to a level start- and one of them will probably win.

The Group Three Zukunftsrennen over seven furlongs, is Germany´s first race of the season for two-year-olds and has attracted an international field, with six local hopes, three from the U.K. and one from France. The three British raiders look very dangerous, they are all experienced and possibly Charlie Appleby´s Godolphin candidate Well of Wisdom (Oasis Dream) could be the best of them, having won twice and also running up to the smart Earthlight at Deauville. But neither Archie Watson´s Above (Anjaal) nor Andrew Balding´s Game and Set (Zoffany), both easy last-time-out winners, can be ignored.   Of the German hopes, Sarah Steinberg´s Fearless King (Kingman)- from the team that won the race last year and an easy winner at Munich on his only race so far, and Jean-Pierre Carvalho´s Schlenderhan homebred Alson, who has won two of his three starts, including a nice event in Clairefontaine, look the best.

The Grosser Preis von Baden on Sunday is the highlight of the week and always one of the top races in Germany. This is a fascinating contest featuring two smart German three-year-olds, both trained by Andreas Wöhler, and two tough candidates from the U.K. Laccario (Scalo) has won all his four starts this season, culminating in the German Derby last time, and has shown improvement with every race. He could be the best German racehorse for some years, but will need to be to win this. It is not even certain that he can defeat his stable companion Ashrun (Authorized), winner of all his three starts so far and another one with huge potential. Ghayyaith (Dubawi), the Godolphin runner, was a most impressive Group Two winner in the spring and is regarded as Charlie Appleby´s big Arc hope. However he is coming off a break and has never yet run beyond ten furlongs. Mark Johnston´s Communiqué (Casamento) was runner-up in the Grosser Preis von Berlin last timer after banging his head in the starting stalls. The trainer is very bullish: “he is the one they all have to beat, he is a genuine Group One performer.”

The main supporting features are the Group Two Oettingen—Rennen over a mile; this is another race that looks destined for export. Andrea Balding has a good record in this race and saddles Crossing the Liner (Cape Cross), but Charlie Appleby´s Vintager (Mastercrafsman) has a much higher rating and the Godolphin candidate is preferred. The listed race for fillies and mares has a field of fifteen, including runners from England, France, Austria and Switzerland; this fixture was in the past known as the International Week and it is certainly living up to that name this weekend.