The English page - Diana- and Derby-Trials

Last weekend we had Magdeburg on the Saturday and a double header of Krefeld and the main meet Berlin-Hoppegarten on Sunday. Hoppegarten staged a good class programme which included the Group III Diana Trial or Oaks Trial over 2000 meters (1m2f). The main event attracted only a small field of six but still punters were finding it hard to separate the top four with eventually Egina, the Soldier Hollow filly from Peter Schiergens stables being sent off favourite on the back of an emphatic 8 lengths win here over course and distance three weeks earlier. As tight as the first four were in the betting market, the race would throw up a really exciting finish with less than ½ length covering all four at the finish. New York City (Sea the Moon) made the running in the Ebbesloh colours but was closely attended by the grey Erle (Reliable Man) with the other two major players Lady Mary (Lawman) and favourite Egina sitting on their tails. Turning into the 500-meter (2 ½ f) Hoppegarten straight there was not a length covering them as all four settled down for battle to the line. Lady Mary was probably the unluckiest of them as she was held in behind leader New York City by Martin Seidl on Erle. At the furlong pole all four were in a line and hard in battle. At the post a short head separated the Gestuet Roettgens Erle with Seidl from Lady Mary and Billy Loughane with favourite Egina and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev a further neck away in third. New York City having been the pacemaker for so long was another neck behind in fourth. It was probably the tactical ride on the winner when holding Lady Mary in at the two poles which was probably the winning of the race on the day. It was a cracking race and all four proved they could be a force to reckon with come Oaks Day. 

The transferred Siberne Peitsche from the abandoned Baden-Baden meet last week proved a lucky turn for Schutzenzauber (Amaron) the only 3-year-old in the race as he came home ¾ length in front of Blueridge Silver (Siyouni) to give owner Walter Busch and trainer Jean Pierre Carvalho the victory. It was also a first listed race win for Irish born jockey Sean Byrne, who explained afterwards he had been delighted that Baden Baden had been cancelled because of the heavy ground and he could get this chance a week later on good ground. Wave Machine (Shalaa) stayed on for third place 1 ¼ lengths behind the first two, with Perfect Pic (Red Jazz) running another cracher to bely his odds of 37/1. The 10.500 spectators with many prominences from the fashion and political world were treated to some very exciting finishes on another fine day of racing in Berlin-Hoppegarten. 

Outside of Germany, some of our notable trainers sent runners down to Milan Italy for the Italian Oaks. None of them however could get in a blow in the 388.000 Euro Group II event. Isfand (Isfahan) for Henk Grewe and Darius Racing was sent off hot favorite but she could only finish 5th though she would be promoted to 4th behind the Silvestre de Sousa ridden 20/1 shot Tomiko (Footstepinthesand). This one went into the race as a maiden although she had shown form also at group level. Sun Never Sets (Karakontie) 23/1 finished second with the 12/1 shot Nikkei (Affair Solitaire) claiming third spot. Best of our German team was the Andreas Suborics trained Quetame (Saxon Warrior) who crossed the line in fourth spot under Luke Morris but lost the lead bag at the furlong pole and had to be disqualified. Duras finished 5th with Saman last in the field. In the Group III fillies contest the Del Giubileo-Troffo Snai Pay over 2000 meters (1m2f) Peace of Rose (Soldier Hollow) ran a blinder for Michael Cadeddu and Roland Dzubasz to finish second to the French trained easy winner Une Perle (Mount Nelson) from the Jerome Reynier stables Sacaya (The Grey Gatsby) from Carmen Bocskai stables belied her 20/1 odds to run third. Spirits of Dreams finished fourth for Yasmine Almenraeder. Understated, Weltreise and Alpina Express finished 5th, 7th and 9th respectively. 

The Swiss Derby run for the first time this year in Dielsdorf saw success for the Christian von der Recke trained Nachthimmel. The Irish bred Fascinating Rock son lead home a German one two as the Koen Clijmans ridden winner had 1 ¾ lenghts to spare over Ericson at the winning post, the first two pulling clear of third placed Sholto. The third German runner from Fabian Xaver Weissmeier, Gina´s Lion, was well beaten and finished last of the eight runners. 

Next week sees Dresden open its gates on Saturday as well as Hannover and Cologne on Sunday. Hannovers highlight will be the Grosser Preis der VGH Versicherung a listed race over 3000 meters (1m 7f). Unfortunately, it looks like being a small field as Alessio looks to follow up his Group II win in the Comer Group Internation 53. Oleander Rennen, where he got the better of Nastaria who he meets here again by just under a length. Niagara and Lotterbov have been finding life tough of late, but the Sir Mark Prescott English trained runner Miss Cynthia could be a danger. The four-year-old filly is still a maiden but won’t be sent without a chance although black type will be the main reason for coming. 

Cologne has two top class races with the Sparkasse Koeln Bonn – 189 Union-Rennen, historically Germany´s most prestigious Derby Trial, and again it has attracted some of the big Derby candidates with the likes of Any Moon, Alleno, Palladium and Stingray all featuring prominently in the Derby betting. The winner will probably head the Derby market come Monday morning. 

One the same card the Group II Grosser Preis von Wettstar.de over 2200 meters (1m3f), which was transferred to here from the abandoned Baden-Baden Sunday meeting, has also a host of Germany´s top distance horses. When the race was reopened Fantastic Moon and Quantanamera were all added to the field. If the first mentioned takes his place he also holds entries later in Italy, he will probably go off favourite to bounce back after a disappointing run in the Prix Ganay Group I last time out. Quantanamera has found her form with a vengeance this season and ran a splendid race last time with a second place in the Group II Prix Corrida in Saint Cloud. Tunnes, Straight, Assistent or Napolitano are all good horses on their day. The five-time winning Lordano including last time in the Carl Jaspers Preis in cologne had almost all of this field behind him that day and would be a first choice in the absence of Fantastic Moon and with or without this one he will be the one to beat as he is so though and honest. 

Shannon Spratter