The English page - Ittlingen Day

Cologne was the highlight meeting of last weekend racing in Germany, where its eight-race programme included the Sparkasse Köln-Bonn – 189. Union-Rennen historically Germany´s most important Derby Trial and the Grosser Preis von Wettstar.de, a Group II for the older brigade over 2200 meters (1m 3f). The Group II Union Rennen also over 2200 meters (1m 3f) and with nice prize money of 72.000 Euro saw nine Derby hopefuls go to post with Any Moon (Sea the Moon) being sent of favourite for Markus Klug and Andrasch Starke and owners Gestuet Schlenderhahn. 

This one, though holding a prominent position throughout, faded badly in the straight and dropped away tamely to finish a disappointing 7th of the nine. The winner Narrativo (Adlerflug) who had shown good form at two when in training with Markus Klug, having won his maiden on debut and then finishing a good second behind Geography in the Preis des Winterfavoriten Group III on this track, before being put away for the winter. Unfortunately, this one did not follow when Markus Klug went to Krefeld at the end of the season as public trainer and joined the cologne stables of Peter Schiergen. He had had his first start for this stable end of May when finishing third in a Longchamp Group III behind Calandagan and Trafagar Square a horse that’s holds a lot of form ties with the German derby hopefuls. Narrativo, in the hands of Adrie de Vries, ran out a convincing winner in the colours of Gestuet Ittlingen, who also provided the second placed Alleno (Nathanial) for Marcel Weiss and jockey Rene Piechulek. Anspruch (New Bay) for new Gestuet Roettgen trainer Maxime Pecheur stayed on notably strong for third and he is another hopeful that after a very convincing debut win when to France and was beaten by Trafalgar Square in a listed race. Palladium (Gleneagles) finished fourth for Liberty Racing with an unlucky in running, the maiden Stingray (Zarak) finished fifth. 

The second feature race, the Grosser Preis von Köln Group II, saw a revived Fantastic Moon (Sea The Moon) return to form to get the better of another Ittlingen horse Lordano (Adlerflug). Last years Derby winner had a lot in his favour this time with the good ground and the distance 2200 meters (1m 3f) ideal for him, and it was good to see him back to something like his form when getting the nod here. Lordano ran another cracker here, as this is the minimum he wants, really he has always been acclaimed as Germany´s best stayer which I believe he definitely is. 

Third home was Assistent (Sea the Moon) who is so consistent in these middle distance Group II´s and III´s. Tunnes (Guiliani) also ran a top race. His second run after a break, he quickened well turning in and had these on the stretch till inside the furlong pole, and he would also be happier with wetter underfoot conditions. 

Up in Hannover, the Grosser Preis VGH Versicherungen a listed race over 3000 meters (1m 7f) was the feature and this also went to an Ittlinger horse in  Alessio (Teofilio) as he proved to strong here for Lotterbov (Protectionist) and a very very unlucky Nastaria (Outstrip) , who found his path blocked on numerous occasions down the straight and jockey Miguel Lopez had to wait till inside the furlong pole to Manoeuvre out and he flew home. 

On the same day over in Chantilly, France, Global Heath (Farhh) took his place in the Group III Prix du Lys over Derby distance 2400 meters (1m 4f). The Peter Schiergen trained and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev ridden colt did not have the best of runs on the day and finished fourth behind the unbeaten Delius (Frankel) for Jean Claude Rouget and Christoph Soumillion. The Ebbersloh hopeful remains on target for the big one in Hamburg and in my opinion is one of the major players. 

Andreas Woehler avoided the Union with his Sea the Stars colt Queimados and instead sent him to Milan, Italy, for the Premio Gran Premio D ´Italia a listed race over 2400 meters (1m 4f). Ridden by Eduardo Pedroza the Gestuet Faehrhof duly obliged and ran out a convincing winner and it looks like he´ll go to the Derby now. Peter Schiergen send Quantum Memories and Flamingo Moon here, but both ran unplaced. Larios (Brametot) for Uwe Aisch, Markus Klug and Andrasch Starke ran very creditably to finish third and these have been very lucky with their Derby runners in the past and nearly caused a shock with Schwarzer Peter in the 2022 event when beaten a short head by Sammarco.

Looking ahead to this week and Dortmund takes centre stage on Sunday with a nine-race card which includes the Group III 35. Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft over 1800 meters (1m 1f) for 3-year-old and upwards. 

Nine horses have stood their ground, and it looks an intriguing race with Arcandi (Zarak), having won Group III´s in Baden-Baden and Dusseldorf on his last two starts looking the one to beat. See Hector (Counterattack) got within a head of him in Dusseldorf and was subsequently a good second at Group III level in Rome. Throw in the three-year-old Penalty (Frankel) who was beaten a head in the German 2000 Guineas and this could be a cracking race.

Shannon Spratter