Breeding & Racing in Germany
In 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.
When we introduced “The English page” in Turf Times a few years ago, there was no question about the author. Our English readers could not be better informed about what was happening here than by David Conolly-Smith. Born in Nottingham, the Englishman, correspondent for various British and Irish specialist newspapers, German representative of the International Racing Bureau, contact point for all active people from the island, lived in Munich and horse racing was his passion. He passed away on July 9, 2023 at the age of 83. It was his wish that Shannon Patricia Spratter should continue the English-language column in his place. He was friends with her father, the Irish-born trainer John David hillis, wo is working in Munich, and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Our columnist briefly introduces herself here.
Writes the column for the English-speaking Turf Times readers: Shannon Spratter with her father, former jockey and current gallop trainer, John David Hillis. Foto: privat
My name is Shannon Patricia Spratter and I was born into racing through my father, former jockey and now trainer, John David Hillis and mother, Jeanette Spratter.
Due to the recommendation of David Conolly-Smith, I have taken over his part with great enthusiasm and now write the English edition about our German racing.
When I'm not in front of the computer writing texts or pursuing my main job, I spend my time at my father's racing stable. My favourite hobby is riding races as an amateur.
Last weekend saw Krefeld host Germany´s last group race for the 2023 season. The Herzog von Ratibor–Rennen, run over the 1700 meters (1m 1/2f) trip for the two-year-olds, saw 6 horses go to post in the Group III event. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of rain of late in Germany and the ground in Krefeld rode on the heavy side.
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Last WeekendsMunich race programme included the running of the last Group I race in Europe this year. The Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern, one of Germanys late turf seasons highlights over the 2400 meters distance, was disappointingly contested by only four horses. With rain in the area the days before the event and the forecasted soft ground, the Godolphin English challenger Rebels Romance was withdrawn.
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Last weekend’s meeting at Berlin-Hoppegarten, their final meet for the 2023 season, including the Group III, Silbernes Pferd, over the 3000 meters stayers’ trip. With heavy rain on the Saturday evening and again on Raceday Sunday, the ground was pretty testing. The rain and the conditions though proved no difficulties for the much improved 4-year-old Lordano (Adlerflug) as the 15/10 favorite ran out an easy 3 ½ lengths winner to stamp himself as probably Germany´s best staying prospect at present.
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Surely but surely is the Grass season in Germany on its last leg but the weekend in Hannover which apart from racing itself included an “Experts Day” to give an insight into racing and a chance to discuss various topics around our sport.
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Last weekend saw the final meeting for this year on our Premiere track Baden-Baden. The Sales and racing meeting with two days racing either side of the sales of Horses in Training and Yearlings as well as mares in foal brought some good crowds to Iffezheim.
With all the class racing that we were treated to on Arc weekend in Paris and the good racing here last weekend, this week all was quiet on the Western Front. At home we did have one important race in Cologne, the Köln-Wettstar.de sponsored Preis des Winterfavoriten, a Group III event for 2-year-old colts over the 1600 meters (1 mile) trip. The most significant 2-year-old colts race of the year with the winner heading the betting market for next year’s Derby, and this year’s winner would be following in the footsteps of Fantastic Moon, who of course having won this last year, added the Derby also.
The big weekend of racing just gone definitely provided a real treat of top-class racing for every racing enthusiast. Starting in the neighboring country and the Arc weekend at Longchamp, Paris, the first of the German runners lined up in the Prix Dollar Group II on the Saturday. Sammarco (Camelot) representing Gestüt Park Wiedingen and Peter Schiergen had his regular pilot of 2023, Adrie de Vries in the plate as he contested this Group II. A regular in all German Group I´s and II´s over 2400 meters (1 ½ m) since his Derby win in 2022 he dropped back to this 1950 meters (1m 1 ½ f), the shortest he has been since his debut as a 2-year-old in Halle over 1500 meters (7 ½ f). And this was really run at a proper pace as Jack Darcy made the running.
The highlight of last weekend’s racing was the Group I 61. Preis von Europa in Cologne on Sunday. Over 13.000 spectators and perfect weather made a real atmosphere and the ideal setting for the Weidenpescher seasons highlight. The Group I event attracted eight starters, as Sisfahan was taken out and will go for the Prix d l´Arc de Triomphe this Sunday, these included the Godolphin pair Live your Dream (Ifraaj) for Saeed bin Suroor and Oisin Murphy and Siskany (Dubawi) the better fancied of the two for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. Trevaunance (Muhaarar) also made the journey from Ireland for Jessica Harrington. Hollie Doyle took the mount on the filly.
Classic weekend in Dortmund: on Sunday Dortmund staged its 139th Deutsches St. Leger sponsored by Wettstar.de. Run over 2800 meters (1m6f) this now Group III event attracted 11 runners this year. In olden days it was always regarded as the toughest classic to win as it took a hardened 3-year-old to go through his season till September then take on the 2800 meters trip on mostly good to soft ground. Even on Sunday’s good ground it took a good tough stayer to win the last classic of the season. Lordano (Adlerflug) winner of five of his seven starts now, went one better than full brother Loft, a top stayer who finished 2nd in the St. Leger in 2021 thereby adding this traditioal Classic to his listed win last time out in Baden-Baden.
Probably the one interesting race on the national front last weekend was the Großer Preis des Lakis in Kö-Quatier race in Düsseldorf. A race for the juveniles at Listed class and over the mile, it attracted only the five runners but was won in decisive fashion by Maigret representing Gestüt Karlshof and Bohumil Nedorostek. The son of Counterattack made it 2 from 2 under Andrasch Starke having won first time of asking in Hannover. The homebred ran out an easy 2 ½ length winner from Thekinofmyheart (Magna Grecia) and Augustus (Soldier Hollow).
This year’s Baden-Baden summer meeting seemed to have everything that the racing public could ask for. The weather held good during the week and right up to the final weekend the sun shone on Iffezheim. And it would be the weather that would lead to controversial circumstances surrounding the Großer Preis von Baden on the Sunday. With the good weather the racecourse attracted crowds of 8.000 plus on all days and over 16.000 were treated to a spectacular day on the Group I Sunday.
The “Große Woche Baden-Baden” the big week Baden-Baden is exactly that in the German Racing calendar. Whether it is Royal Ascot week in England or the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe weekend in Paris Longchamp this week in Baden-Baden is the most important internationally for our sport with the highlight on the last Sunday the Großer Preis von Baden. This is where we sell our sport. Throw in the BBAG Premiere yearling sales and it becomes the meeting point for owners, trainers, breeder’s agents, and everyone involved in racing the whole year.