Breeding & Racing in Germany
David Conolly-Smith: www.galoppfoto.de - Frank SorgeIn order to be of assistance to our growing number of readers from abroad, we are with immediate effect publishing in every issue of Turf Times an English page, giving in compact form all the latest racing and breeding news from Germany in English. It will be written by the well-known racing journalist David Conolly-Smith, who has lived in Germany for many years. He is the German representative of the International Racing Bureau and writes regularly on German racing and breeding for the Racing Post, Irish Field, EBN, TRC and many other publications.
Last weekend’s racing highlights belonged to the Berlin-Hoppegarten racecourse where it staged its main race of the year, the 133. Westminster Großer Preis von Berlin Group I and also three listed races over distances ranging from 1200 meters to 2800 meters. With glorious weather conditions and good ground there was a large attendance to see this Group I race which has established itself well in the International Calendar and seen some high-class performances over the years. One of the seven Group I´s in Germany now, previous winners since the race found its way back to Berlin in 2011, have included Arc Winner Danedream in 2011, Melbourne Cup Winner Protectionist in 2016, Torquato Tasso in 2020 and Alpinista in 2021 both would go on to Arc glory and last year Rebel´s Romance for Godolphin, who took the 2022 Breeders Cup Turf in Saratoga, USA.
Nottingham (2018), St., v. Excelebration - North Sea, Zü.: Gestüt Brümmerhof
Siegerin am 2. August in Clairefontaine/Frankreich, Hcap, 1600m, €11.500
BBAG-Herbstauktion 2019, €3.000 an Hans-Dieter Jarling
Amazing Grace (2018), St., v. Protectionist - Amabelle. Zü.: Christoph Berglar
Dritte am 3. August in Saratoga/USA, Glen Falls Stakes, Gr. II, 2400m, ca. €27.400
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Last weekend’s German Racing centred on the Group I 165. Henkel-Preis der Diana- the German Oaks in Duesseldorf and the Fritz Henkel Preis a Group III for 3-year-olds and older horses. Unfortunately, the weather would play a major role on raceday. Dusseldorf had seen a lot of rain in the days leading up to Oaks Day but what came down on raceday morning would turn the ground to almost untraceable, so much so, that come midday the Stewards, Trainers and Jockeys decided an inspection of the track was necessary. After the inspection it was decided among all, that they would run the first race, a 2-year-old race and bring forward the Group III Fritz Henkel Preis as second event with the 165. German Oaks Henkel Preis der Diana now being run as the third race and thereafter they would reinspect the track regarding the rest of the Card.
Last weekend’s German Racing centred on the Group I Großer Dallmayr Preis in Munich, the highlight of the year in the Bavarian capital. Before we got to the big day itself there was more success for Munich Racecourse on the Saturday in France. Derby winning trainer Sarah Steinberg sent her 4-year-old Reliable Man daughter Derida to Clairefontaine to contest the Prix Luth Enchantée a listed race for 4-year-old and older fillies over 2400 meters. She had been unlucky in Hamburg last start but more so in the Listed class on the previous start in Baden-Baden, where se had to settle for 6th place behind Kolossal (2 time Group winner since) after been boxed in and blocked in her run down the straight. On this day here in Clairefontaine everything went perfect for her.
It was all a bit quieter last weekend in Germany, racing in Bad Harzburg kept the show on the road with two valuable Handicaps on Saturday, one of which went to the owner trained Dutch Soller Bay (Iffraaj) who has won his last 3 starts in Germany while Viviane (Lucky Lion) took the other one for the Gallop Club Bremen and Pavel Vovcenko. On the Friday evening Sarah Steinberg sent her consistent Runnymede (Dansili) to Vichy in France to contest the Listed Prix Jaques de Bermond over 1600 meters. With stable jockey Rene Piechulek on board, he again ran creditably to finish second to the Damien de Wadtrigant trained God Blessing (Siyouni) in the six-horse field.
Plenty of racing last weekend in Germany and it kicked off with the After-Work Evening 10 race programme on Friday in Hannover. Almost 4.500 spectators enjoyed the family atmosphere on the racecourse with the main event being the Großer Preis von Meravis, a listed race over the stayer distance of 3000 meters for 3-year-old and upwards. Two non-runners left a field of 8 go to post and it was nice to see a Swiss representative making the long journey. Actually Valcava (Amaron) for trainer Claudia Erni was sent off the 2/1 favorite for the prize. Valcava sat up prominently in second place behind Saccary (Nathaniel) in a truly run race. The jockeys were happy to accept their positions throughout the race till entering the long straight in Hannover where the come from behind horses changed the race quickly as the leaders dropped away.
This week is an exceptionally hard week and when I agreed to take over the writing of this page as substitute for David Conolly-Smith, I was not expecting that I would so suddenly have to write about our family friend and his life.
So finally, the Derby weekend came with 3 days of good class racing. Somehow the excitement grows immensely as we enter those last 72 hours before the big one on Sunday, Nervous trainer´s, nothing can go wrong now in these last days because there is no more time to repair. You’re in or out, even in the stable yard its chattier than usual as the groom´s and regular travelling lads and lasses discuss the wellbeing of their main hopes. Saturday will see the first arrivals of the Derby candidates and then to Sunday, they are all there and ready to run.
This week we have decided to change away from the norm and look more forward rather than back. Now we did have the pompous and Royal occasion of the Ascot meeting last week in England and it produced a first win for newly crowned King Charles and wife Camilla when Desert Hero took the King George V Stakes. Frankie Dettori won a 9th Gold Cup in his last season, Hollie Doyle became the first female rider to win a Gr 1 race at the Royal Meeting and Aidan O Brien and Ryan Moore topped the trainers and jockey tables respectively at the end of the week.
But we want to look in detail at Germany´s most important race, our Blue Ribbon, the Derby in Hamburg Horn next Sunday.
So, what did we see this week in our sport! Well let´s start in Chantilly and the Prix de Diane Longines. This Group I for 3-year-old fillies attracted two German trained runners, with Lady Ewelina (Mukhadram) for Andreas Wöhler/Eduardo Pedroza and Romina Power (Le Havre) for Michael Figge/Augustin Madament took their chance. While both could never land a blow in the top fillies’ event, finishing 7th and 9th respectively, the race threw up outstanding performance from Blue Rose Cen (Churchill), as she burst clear at the 300-meter mark to beat Never Ending Story (Dubawi) and Tasmania (Australia) by an easy 4 lengths.
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.
Last week’s racing in Europe was a week to savor and relish. Derby Meeting at Epsom Downs followed by the French Derby from Chantilly and the German 1000 Guineas showed our Sport in Bright Lights.