The English page - more classic hopes

The only racing in Germany for the past 12 days was staged at Cologne last Sunday, a mammoth card with 12 races including the Group Two Carl Jaspers-Preis for 4yo´s and up over 2400 metres as well as three interesting races for 3yo´s with several classic clues. The Group Two race, previously known as the Gerling-Preis, was the best race run here so far this year. The field of six included ther 2017 German Derby winner Windstoss (Shirocco) and stable companion Kaspar (Pivotal), both Gestüt homebreds trained by Markus Klug, local hopes Sunny Queen, trained by Henk Grewe and winner last year of the Group One Grosser Preis von Bayern, and two trained by Peter Schiergen, top stayer Quian (Mastercraftsman) and Nerium (Camelot) as well as consistent Dato (Mount Nelson). On paper Sunny Queen (Camelot), who had a 2 kilos penalty for her Munich success, looked the one to beat, but the money came for Nerium, who finally started at favourite at just over 2-1.

Nerium was one of only two runners to have raced already this season, having finished fourth (just behind Dato) here over slightly shorter in the listed Grand Prix Aufgalopp. This proved to be a significant advantage as Nerium ran much better this time and justified the market support with a ready victory. Bred in Ireland by Jürgen und Ursula Imm, who race under the nom de course Stall Nizza, had already been one of the most improved horses in Germany in 2020. He did not run at all at two, and only made his debut last July when fifth of 12 in a Mülheim maiden. He then won his next four races, all easily before running up in the Group Two Gran Premio del Joclkey Club in Milan (form confirmed this year at Meydan). He has obviously improved further and this was his best performance yet. Always well placed, he came through in the centre of the track to take the lead 300 yards out and soon went clear to win very smoothlyby 2 ½ lengths from Kaspar, who just held Sunny Queen (did not get much of a run) for second place.

Nerium has now been given a German GAG of 97 (=114 international); according to the official ratings he has improved by no less than 28 1/2 kilos since his first handicap success last summer. This was only his eighth career start, and although it must be said that he had the run of the race here, it is quite possible that he can continue to improve and Group One races are likely to be on his programme in the second half of the season. The Imms keep their best mares in Ireland and they are invariably covered by Coolmore stallions. This has worked very well for them in the past and continues to do so. He is from the family of Nicaron (Acatenango), who won the German Derby for Stall Nizza in 2005 and stands in France for a fee of 3,200 euros. Connections of both Kaspar and Sunny Queen were also satisfied and both should come on for the race.

However, as far as the future is concerned, the 3yo´s races were potentially much more interesting.  Stall Lucky Owner´s homebred Sejana set the ball rolling with an easy succss in the fillies´maiden over 1500 metres. She only scored by half a length from Muelherimer Perle (Pearl Secret), but was never in serious danger, although the runner-up also looks worth following. Sejana´s target is the German 1,000 Guineas; she needs to improve quite a bit, but this was only her second start and trainer Henk Grewe holds her in high regard.

Another 3yo having run only once beforehand was Vallando (Lord of England), a Gestüt Auenquelle homebred who had been a very promising third in good company in Munich last November. He started at odds-on for the 3yo maiden over 1850 metres at Cologne and duly delivered the goods with the minimum of fuss. He was still green, but the way he picked in the final furlong ewas very encouraging.-His trainer Marcel Weiss, who in his first season last year trained the Derby runner-up Torquator Tasso, seems to have another Hamburg prospect here. He is from a good staying family and will undoubtedly do even better when upped in trip. His next start is likely to be in Hoppegarten´s Derby trial, followed- all being well- by the Derby itself.

While Sejana and Vallando had both been clear favourites, the third 3yo race at Cologne, a 2200 metres event for fillies,  was won by an outsider, Gestüt Röttgen´s  homebred Anna Jolie (Jukebox Jury), who, despite starting at over 18-1, defied the odds and comfortably defeated her stable companion, the Schlenderhan homebred Tellez (Guiliani). Markus Klug trains them both and expressed himself “shocked” by the result, as Anna Jolie apparently shows very little in her work. It will be interesting to see how she is campaigned now, but she clearly stays very well and is from the famous Anna Paola family. The runner-up was making her lifetime debut and also looks very promising; she could now go for the Diana-Trial at Hoppegarten.

Röttgen has started the season in fine form and it may well be that its best chance of a classic success  this year will be in the Epsom Derby itself, as the style in which Wirko (Kingman) won at Epsom earlier this week was certainly impressive. He was the most expensive colt at the 2019 BBAG yearling sale, when bought by Godolphin for 700,000 euros. Although Kingman is hardly an influence for stamina, the bottom half of the pedigree is very stout with numerous group race performers at 12 furlongs and more. A German-bred winner of the Epsom Derby would certainly be a huge boost for German breeding.

Looking forward to this weekend, there will more classic clues, with Saturday´s Group Three Dr. Busch-Memorial at Krefeld the most significant. The 1700 metres race has been won by numerous subsequent Group One performers, and is generally regarded as the best local trial for the German 2,000 Guineas. Owner Stall Lintec and trainer Andreas Suborics won it in 2017 with Dragon Lips and should go close again with Best of Lips  (The Gurkha), at least on 2yo form. However he is badly drawn, often a disadvantage at this rather tight track, and we slightly prefer the Hachtsee homebred Lord Charming (Charm Spirit)- drawn next to him, as it happens- who was supplemented by Peter Schiergen. The trainer scored in Cologne last Sunday with Nerium and can keep up the good stable form. Lord Charming won his only race so far, a Hoppegarten maiden at the beginning of this month, and a lot more will be required on Saturday, but he scored that day in excellent style and is clearly very useful.

There is racing at Hanover on Sunday with another mammoth card including two listed races. Germany´s best sprinter, at least on 2019-20 form, the locally-trained Namos (Medicean) is entered for the ´1300 metres race and should win this if he is anywhere near his best form. The obvious danger is Majestic Colt (Clodovil), who has an excellent CD record and won the race last year. The other black type event is a 1900 metres race for 4+ fillies and mares, which looks wide open. Red Hot (Siyouni) is an interesting foreign raider here, she is trained in France by young Irishman Gavin Hernon. However she will need to run up to her best form here to have any chance against some locals with good form to their credit already this season.

David Conolly-Smith