The English page - Derby meeting starts on 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. The winner already of the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac at 2 years and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches this year (1000 Guineas) showed she stays 2100 meters also and has the makings of a champion, but it will be interesting when she meets the colts and the older horses. The third placed Tasmania is owned and bred by Gestüt Schlenderhan being out of the Adlerflug mare Tusked Wings belied her odds of 43/1 to be beaten only a short head for second, a top achievement again for the German breeding industry.

On the corresponding card the German-trained Catch the Stars (Zelzal) in the Prix du Lys, Group III,  or Aemilianus (Holy Roman Emperor) and Calif (Areion) in the Prix Bertrand du Breuil, Group III were good enough on the day and finished unplaced.

In Milan, Italy it certainly did fare better for the German Runners in the Premio del Giubileo, Group III, over 2000 meters, five of the eight starters were German trained and the filled the first five places. The win went to Carmen Bocksai trained Kolossal (Outstrip) and this one folloed up her Baden Baden success under Jockey Mickael Forest. She was followed home by Valpolicella (Amaron) and Norge (Dylan Thomas). In the Group III Premio Carlo Vittadini Arnis Master (Tai Chi) was too strong for Pirouz (Counterattack). The German pair finishing ahead of Closer Look (War Command).

The main event of the evening was the Gran Premio di Milano and again it was Germany to the fore. Best of Lips (The Gurkha) came home in front for a deserved win for Andreas Suborics and Rene Piechulek in the Group III contest to beat the 3-year-old Italian Derby winner Goldenas (Golden Horn) and See Hector (Counterattack). All in all a very successful day for German owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys.

Back on home soil, of course everything is leading up to the German Derby to be run on July 2nd and the Hamburg meeting. The last trial and those last tickets were up for grabs in Hannover. The Derby Trial run over the Derby distance of 2400 meters saw the return of last year leading 2-year-old filly Quantanamera (Lope de Vega) from the Andreas Suborics ´s stables. Coming back after a long layoff, she was still sent off a hot favorite and although patiently ridden and tenderly handled by stable Jockey Martin Seidl. She was just not good enough on the day for the Andreas Wöhler trained Wales (Camelot) racing in Gestüt Fährhof´s colours. This stable companion of the Derby favorite Straight, was always going best under Josef Bojko the stables number two Jockey and led start to finish to book his ticket for Hamburg. The famous Yellow and Black colours will be represented for the first time since 2008 when Solapur, who was also trained by Andreas Wöhler, for a 9th place finish.

Quantanamera has since come out of her race well, but connections will leave the Derby out and concentrate on the Oaks with the filly. On the same Hannover card, the 3 year old colt Muhalif (Lawman) took the Listed GP der VGH over 1400 meters beating the Czech runner Jir Sun (Shamardal) and the French trained Spring Promise (Lope the Vega) by an easy 1 ¾ lengths. The 34. Großer Preis der Wirtschaft, Group III, in Dortmund saw the good stable form of Andreas Suborics continue whe Best Lightning (Sidestep) proved too good for the joint-favorites Aguirre (Camelot) and Petit Marin (Flamingo Fantasy) over the 1800 meters trip for owner Stall Ad Episas.