The English page - Liberty did it again

Before we look back at the highlight races of last weeks Hamburg meeting. I would just like to say a few words about the meeting itself. It is my opinion that only the Derby and its exciting finish saved the meeting. 

I think the format of a five day meeting spread over 8 days is a flop and needs to be looked at. Although the groundsmen tried their best and done an exceptional job on how the Derby track looked, the rains as per usual for Hamburg came. The inside track used to save the ground is a tight oval and the grass was cut excessively short that after the first Sunday meet and the midweek meets on Wednesday and Thursday it became unusable and slippy so much so that Thursday evening racing was pushed out to the bigger track. Second point Thursdays meeting do we need 11 races and very moderate ones at that apart from the Grosser Preis von Lotto Hamburg, and then five in the morning (11.20-13.25) and restart with a three horse race at 17.30 - 20.25 at night, my mind crazy. Do they not think of Jockeys, trainers lad and lasses and the cost of it all when we see the state of racing is in. Again, only my opinion but would it not be better like the Irish Derby and make it 3 continuous days Friday to Derby Day Sunday, a long weekend of racing.

So to the Highlights Wednesday in the bad weather and heavy ground saw 6 compete for the Hamburg-my-bed.eu - Langer Hamburger Listed Race over 3200m (2 mile). Niagaro (Adlerflug) came back to his best in these testing conditions to win from Sombrero (Dylan Thomas) and Nastaria (Outstrip). A nice start for Rene Piechulek and Trainer Marcel Weiss. 

Thursday Grosser Preis von Lotto Hamburg a Group III event saw Atoso (Guiliani) give Berlin trainer Sarka Schutz a tremendous win. The 14/1 shot was given a very strong ride from Lilli-Marie Engels to out battle Dolomit (Mastercraftsman) and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev to gain a short head victory with Westminster Moon (Sea the moon), 3 ¼ lengths away in third.

Saturdays 11 race card had Wettstar.de - Grosser-Hansa Preis over Derby track and trip as the highlight and it was that tough and durable gelding, Lordano (Adlerflug),who took the 40,000€ first prize  again for Rene Piechulek and Marcel Weiss. The Gestuet Ittlingen gelding ran out a 1 ½ length comfortable winner from Tunnes (Guiliani) Andrasch Starke and Mr Hollywood (Iquitos) another 3 ½ lengths back in third. The winner is a real special crowd puller. 

The big Day itself and the Derby saw a race, as I have said before, saved this whole meeting. A thrilling finish. Borna (Saxon Warrior) jumped best and as no one else wanted to make it Andrasch Starke let the Italian Derby winner bowl along, and amazingly they defied all challenges to him, leading this field right down to the last meters. Spread the full with of the track from another Palladium (Gleneagles) who had taken the wide outside route under young jockey Thore Hammer Hansen collared Borna in the last strides to give owners Liberty Racing back to back wins in the German Derby, having won last year with Fantastic Moon. It was a first Derby win for his jockey and second for his trainer Henk Grewe. Augustus (Soldier Hollow) with Michal Abik was a head away third. Alleno (Nathaniel) 1 ¼ lengths back in 4th outbattled again an unlucky Stingray for that berth. The winner Palladium was an 80,000€ buy at the BBAG yearling sales, two years ago. Gestuet Faehrhof are the lucky breeders. 

In the 1600m (1m) Sales race on Derby Day, Hamburg-Rudolf-August-Oetker Gedaechnisrennen we saw a truly magnificent performance from Ghorgan (Study of Man). who won by 9 lengths in a common canter in the colors of Darius Racing same owner as by Borna in the Derby and maybe this win could take a bit of the sadness away after a heart breaking defeat in the Derby. Ghorgan was ridden by Eduardo Pedroza for Andreas Wohler. 

The listed fillies race the Japan Racing Association Trophy over 2200m (1m 3f) went to Gestuet Bruemmerhofs Narmada. The Maxim Pecheur trained Adlerflug daughter under Martin Seidl had ¾ length to spare at the post over the French trained in the Godolphin blue Colors, Veil of Shadows (Frankel) and Team Valors Crystal Estrella (Ifraaj). 

The Jack White Hamburger Stutenpreis for 3 year old fillies over 2200m (1m 3f) went the way of Princess Badee (Al Wukair). This was one of the fairytale successes of the meeting. Owned by a very young man Bastian Dietz, who always had a love for the racing game eventually bought himself a horse when it became feasible. Given in training to an old maestro in Christian Sprengel, Princess Badee made dreams come true. She won her maiden early this year, on her second start and here on only her third was a neck to good for Diamond Crown (Cracksman) with New York City (Sea the moon) a head away third. Michael Cadeddu was in the saddle of the winner. 

Looking forward to this weekend we have a small program in Magdeburg on Saturday with Mulheim on Sunday staging a nine race card with the BBAG Diana Trial (Oaks Trial) the race of significance. At the moment it looks like eight will go to post and it must be a suitable opportunity for Lady Mary (Lawman). Second last time out in an Oaks Trial in Berlin, she should go one better for Adrie de Vries and Andreas Suborics. Duras, fifth in the Italian Oaks might be good enough to follow her home Royal Night steps up in trip from the mile here, whereas the Henri-Alex-Pantall trained Godolphin runner, Soft Winds, could get involved in the finish. This two time winning daughter by Night of Thunder was last seen winning in Tarbes. Dua Lina represent top trainer Waldemar Hickst and the Nathaniel daughter comes here with a white vest as she won her maiden in Hannover on her only start.

Shannon Spratter