The English page - The new Derby favourite

Again another very interesting week in our sport with three major highpoints. The travel of Nachtrose to England, the Italian Oaks and of course the 188. Union Rennen in Cologne. Stall Nizza´s 4-year-old Nachtrose (Australia) was sent on her travels to contest the newly named Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes, a Group III event at Haydock Park in England.

The race had just six entries and then it was reduced to five as the favorite Minikyu from John and Thady Gosden’s stable with Frankie Dettori as rider was declared a non-runner just a few minutes prior to the start. It was a very intriguing contest with Nachtrose and Rene Piechulek allowed to dictate the pace from the offset. The German raider hadn’t seen another runner right down to the 400-meter mark as the first challenges were mounting. She battled very bravely and fought them all off till Sea Silk Road (Sea the Stars) appeared on her outside at the 150-meter mark. This one was going the better and was ¾ length too good for Nachtrose at the line with one length back to Poptronic (Nathaniel) in third. It was an emotional and fitting winner as Sea Silk Road is trained by William Haggas, son in law of the legendary Jockey. On hand to receive the trophy was Maureen Haggas wife of Trainer and assistant and she added, my father Lester Piggott had his first and last winner at Haydock Park so it is lovely when a plan works out and we could win this race named after him.

On Sunday, the 388.300 Euro added Premio Oaks D´Italia (Italian Oaks) attracted four German runners, Evina (Kodiac) trained by Andreas Suborics, Gambia Sun (Dariyan) Michael Figge, Salvina (Lord of England) Sarah Steinberg and View Zabeel (Saxon Warrior), where by the first three mentioned could never land a blow in the Group II contest, it was left to the Andreas Wöhler trained View Zabeel with stable jockey Eduardo Pedroza to fight out the finish of this race. Interestingly Eduardo Pedroza came here to ride instead of the Union Derby Trial in Cologne. Coming from off the pace and finishing fast View Zabeel could not get to grips with the good Italian filly Shavasana (Gleneagles) and Holly Doyle. This filly must be special as she is now unbeaten in five starts. She had changed ownership just before this race and so ran in Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida’s colours and has since left Stefano Botti’s stable to join Francis-Henri Graffard in France. Following them home in third place was the French trained filly Maylin (Footstepsinthesand) and fourth went to Estrosa ( Sioux Nation). A good result for the Coolmore camp as all stallions of the first four placed fillies stand at Coolmore Ireland.

On the same card, Andreas Wöhler and Eduardo Pedroza were represented with Lajoscha (Gleneagles) in Team Valors colours and the 5 year old colt also ran a fine race to finish second in the long distance 3000 meter listed Premio Coppa D´Oro behind the outsider Fortunino (Golden Horn).

The high point of the week in Germany was the Cologne Sunday meeting, which included the Group II, 188. Union Rennnen, the most important Derby trial. In an intriquing field this year, it included the up till now unbeaten and Derby favorite Mr. Hollywood (Iquitos), plus most of the leading fancies for Hamburg like Napolitano (Australia), Skylo (Postponed) ,Weracruz (Cracksman) and Straight (Zarak). An intriguing race it turned out to be. On a very warm day and on good to fast ground, something Mr. Hollywood had not yet encountered in his two previous starts no prisoners would be taken in this contest.

From the opening of the gates, Napolitano was sent directly to the front by rider Sybille Vogt, followed by Skylo with Frankie Dettori and Aspirant with Andrasch Starke with the favorite Mr. Hollywood ridden with restraint as was Straight, dropped off last by Josef Bojko. Going a right good pace, this would be a real test for the 3-year-olds and position wise not much had changed till entering the straight. Napolitano and Skylo had a 3 lenght advantage at the 400 meter pole but Mr. Hollywood, Weracruz and Straight were challenging. Whereas Weracruz had not the clearest of passages, Mr. Hollywood and Straight settled down to battle it out, Straight was alway going a tick better on this ground and quicked clear to win by 5 lenghts in what was the fastest run Union-Rennen in history. He was followed home by Mr. Hollywood and the staying on well 33/1 outsider Nachtgeist. Straight still looked babyish and immature when coming to challenge so it made this performance exceptional and it sent the homebred Karlshofer son of Zarak, to the top of the betting market for the Derby, Mr. Hollywood remains second favorite. It crowned a very good day for the Güthersloh trainer Andreas Wöhler.nOn the undercard Lotterbov (Protectionist) took the Weidenpescher Steher Cup Listed race over 3000 meters for Markus Klug stables.

Looking forward to next weekend, we have the Group III Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft over 1800 meters in Dortmund with two French entries among the eight declarations.A Listed Diana Trial in Duesseldorf and return of the French trained Spring Promise, trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, to Hannover for the listed Großer Preis der VGH Versicherung Listed.

But all eyes will be on Chantilly and the Prix de Diane Longines Group I. Fiftheen 3-year-old fillies are entered including the German pair, Lady Ewelina (Mukhadram) from the in top form Andreas Wöhler´s stables. This lady is unbeaten in three starts having started her career in Warsaw, Poland. Also the Michael Figge trained Romina Power (Le Havre), who was sent through the Arqana Sales Ring on Tuesday evening but was bought back at 290.000 euro. A cracking French Oaks which will include Blue Rose Cen, the Poule d´Essai des Pouliches (1000 Guinneas) winner and the unbeaten Jannah Rose (Frankel), winner of the Group I Prix Saint-Alary last time. Throw in the likes of Never Ending Story (Dubawi) and Lindy (Le Havre) and it will be a huge test for the German fillies.

On the supporting card ,Andreas Suborics has entered Catch the Stars (Zelzal) in the Prix Du Lys, a Group 3 for 3 year olds over 2400metersand in the Group3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines Calif (Areion) from Peter Schiergen and Aemilianus (Holy Roman Emperor) from Markus Klus are entered, so plenty of German interest on the day.

Just to end this week, a little bit of history was made in our sport when Arcangelo won the 155 Belmont Stakes for trainer Jena Antonucci making her the first woman to win a Triple Crown Race. Since 1937, 30 women have tried 47 times only to come up short. Congratulations Jena Antonucci!

Shannon Spratter