The English page - Highs and lows

Baden-Badens Fruehjahrs meeting or spring meeting was to be the highlight last weekend with the Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft the main event on the Sunday, the third and last day of the meeting. Unfortunately, it would live the highs and suffer the lows of what can happen by live sporting events.

Thursday saw the first day of the meeting get underway with a nine-race programme which included the Group III 46. Kronimus Badener Meile. Even though the weather forecast said rain, on the day it didn’t materialize, and the ground was officially described as soft, good to soft in places. A holiday in Germany, it saw over 15.000 visitors come through the turnstiles, over 2.000 more than the corresponding day in 2023 and as well as that the betting also saw a plus of nearly 15 percent.

In the 46. Kronimus Badener Meile (1600 meters) for 3-year-old and older horses, Arcandi (Zarak) was sent off favorite in the 8-runner contest and the Gestuet Ebbesloh owned gelding would justify that role. Held up in the last three by Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, as Aguirre and Andrasch Starke made the running but there was little pace on early. Turning down the long straight in Baden-Baden there was no more than 5 lengths covering the field and at the 3 furlong pole Thore Hammer Hansen sent Muhalif (Lawman) up to join Aguirre and set for home but the favorite had moved up behind the leaders as the French runner Kendly (Kendargent) threw down his challenge. When a gap opened a furlong and a half down, Arcandi burst through and ran away to score by an easy 3 lengths from Muhalif, who held Kendly by a neck for second. The winner who missed last season is now making up for that lost time with his second Group win this year and is now 3 from 7. He is advancing to one of the best German milers this year.

In the second highlight on the first day, 11 older fillies went to the start for the Listed fillies race the Preis der Baden-Badener Hotellerie & Gastronomie over 2200 meters (1m3f). This one went the way of the English challenger Tiffany (Farhh) on her first start of the season for Sir Mark Prescott and Jockey Luke Morris. Running in the Elite Racing Club colors, she ran out a very convincing 4 ¼ length winner from North Reliance (Reliable Man) with the big outsider Atlantica (Mastercraftsman) coming in third 2 ½ lengths behind. Tiffany had taken the Listed Grosser Preis der Privatbank ODDO BHF in Hannover when last seen in Germany in 2023 and she has now won 5 of her 8 starts.

By Saturday the second day, the forecast rain had arrived turning the ground to heavy for the Group III Japan Racing Association Derby Trial over 2000 meters (1m 2f) Eight colts went to post and Wilko (Mastercraftsman) was sent off favorite. Already the winner of the Munich Derby Trial, the Bavarian Classic, where he had Augustus (Soldier Hollow) back in fifth, on form he looked the logic choice but his trainer did warn before the race that we were not to forget his main aim is the Derby in six weeks and he didn’t want him to have a hard race on the heavy ground whereas trainer Waldemar Hickst was bullish about his horses chances as he felt Augustus had improved immensely for that seasonal appearance in Munich. And it was to prove exactly so. Germiniano set a strong pace for the underfoot conditions and stretched the field, Augustus sat up third whereas Wilko and New Emerald the favorites followed midfield. Turning down the straight a cantering Wilko cruised to the front electing for the favored outside rail in Baden-Baden. He looked all over the winner under young jockey Leon Wolff as he went three lengths clear of Augustus who to his credit stayed on relentlessly and dug deep to get upsides the favorite in the last 50 yards and outbattle him to win by ½ length. Maybe in hindsight Wilko was just to long in front in the conditions and got out done but it will be good to see both of them clash again in the Derby in Hamburg as both proved they are Derby horses now. New Emerald (Protectionist) stayed on 10 lengths behind in third.

The Tattersalls Diane-Trial or Oaks trial over 1800 meters (1m1f) saw the 75/10 shot Hope and Believe (Make Believe) representing owners Stall Route 66, Partner 3.0 and trainer Andreas Woehler run out an easy 3 ¼ length winner from Sunshine Gal (Lawman) from smaller stables of cologne trainer Sarah Weis and St Elvira (Ectot)in third. Given a chance to find her feet early and she was still last at the 2 furlong pole, she picked up really well under stable jockey Eduardo Pedroza to run out an easy winner and looks talented especially in this ground. She is still unbeaten, two from two, having won her maiden in Berlin-Hoppegarten end of April. 

And then to the Sunday that was not to be. Heavy overnight rained turned the ground to near unraceable with water lying in places and although a tough decision to make it was the right one, racing cancelled. With Baden Galopp unfortunately not able to rearrange in the future as its run in meetings, new venues have had to be found for the two main events and Wettstar.de jumped in as New sponsors. The Group II Grosser Preis der Badischer Wirtschaft scheduled for the Sunday will now be run on the 16. June in cologne under the new name the Grosser Wettstar.de Preis and will add to the Glamour of the most important Derby trial the 189. Union Rennen on that day. The second highlight the Silberne Peitsche over 1200 meters (6f) will now be run as the Wettstar.de Silberne Peitsche over the straight six furlong track next weekend in Berlin-Hoppegarten.

So, looking forward to the coming weekend we have racing in Magdeburg in the East on Saturday and Krefeld and Berlin-Hoppegarten on the Sunday. Berlin has a good programme on offer with the Group III Diana Trial (Oaks Trial) over 2000 meters (1m2f) attracting seven 3-year-old fillies and an all-German affair. Lady Mary (Lawman) from Andreas Suborics cologne stables gets the chance to redeem herself after a good 2nd placing in the Group III Schwarzgold race in Cologne on seasonal debut behind Queues Likely only to disappoint in the German 1000 Guineas. She goes up two furlongs in trip now and Suborics flies the talented Englander Billy Loughnane in for the ride. Interestingly stable jockey Hugo Boutin sticks with the once raced and maiden winner Diamond Crown who was impressive in a big field in Dortmund. Sarah Steinberg sends up New York City (Sea the Moon) from Munich and she was only 1 ½ lengths behind Lady Mary in last year most important 2-year-old fillies contest the Group III Preis der Winterkoenigin. She got rid of her maiden tag when a long odds-on favorite in Munich three weeks ago, but she was definitely not impressive on the day. Egina (Soldier Hollow) won her maiden on this track and over the distance and will represent Peter Schiergen and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. Erle (Reliable Man) ooked decent when winning her maiden on only her second start in Dusseldorf and could get involved for new Roettgen trainer Maxim Pecheur.

The transferred from Baden-Baden Silberne Peitsche over the straight 6 furlong track gives Danelo (Exceed and Excel) a great chance for Waldemar Hickst and Michal Abik who is making the best of his chances this season. He beat a lot of these when winning the listed Grosser Preis von Hannover over 1300 meters (6 ½ f) last time. Atlantic City second that day could again follow him home but like all these sprints it is wide open.

Shannon Spratter