The English page - Gallop to the Arc

Berlin - Hoppegarten enjoyed some beautiful weather last weekend and saw almost 12.000 horse racing fans pass through their turnstiles to enjoy a top class Raceday. The main race of the day the Westminister 134. Grosser Preis von Berlin a Group I event and over the last years a real prep race for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe had only the seven starters, but they included some of Germany's top horses at this distance of 2400 meters (1m 4f). The likes of Tunnes, Mr Hollywood or Best of Lips. from the older brigade or Narrativo, this years Union winner, a top class three-year-old who was trying to put a bad Derby run behind him. Both the foreign runners came with the highest respect with King of Conquest representing Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin Team. Al Riffa from Joseph O Briens Carriganog Racing Stables in Piltown Co. Kilkenny was the form horse in the race. Already a Group I winner as a two-year-old he had finished a gallant second to City of Troy in the Coral Eclipse last time out at Sandown Park in England. 

The race itself did not disappoint and produced another star winner who we certainly will hear more of in the coming months. Gleaming in his summer coat under the Berlin sun, Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) showed not only good looks but his top class ability here. Under his young top class Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle having used Tunnes as a led horse he hit the front just outside the furlong pole and scorched away for an easy 5 length victory.

Narrativo (Adlerflug) corrected his Derby run and while no match for the winner put 4½ lengths between him and the rest of the field Best of Lips (The Gurkha) held Mr Hollywood by a head for third place with long time leader Tunnes eventually having to settle for fifth. The Grosser Preis von Berlin has really found its slot in the Group I middle distance programme and his produced three Arc winners in Danedream, Alpinista and Torquator Tasso. Now rated 98,5 German or 122 Timeform he looks a horse who will continue to improve throughout the rest of the season and now will try to follow in the footsteps of the above mentioned horses as he will take his place in the Arc. He has also been slashed to 14/1 for the Paris highlight on the back of this Berlin run and his first attempt at 2400 meters. It has also been confirmed that the top Japanese Jockey Yutaka Take will take the ride in Longchamp on the first Sunday in October. The 55-year legendary jockey is the choice of part-owner Masaaki Matsushima and was supposed to ride the winner here in Berlin but unfortunately could not make the trip.

On the same card we had three listed races. The Sprint race over 1200m (6f) the Hoppegartner Fliegerpreis was kept in the homeland as all three first home were German trained. Atlanta City (Free Eagle) has come back to her best form recently and having won a non competitive event on her home track in Dresden a week before, she dashed clear here under Wladimir Panov to give the Stall Oberlausitz and Stefan Richter a nice black type win. She proved 2 ½ lengths too strong for oldie Zerostress (Areion). Vinnare (Es Que Love) followed a full 7 lengths behind in third. The Godolphin filly Dream Whisper finished 6 of the 9 runners as the 5/2 favourite. 

The Hoppegartner Steher Preis 2800 m (1m 6f) went the way of the favourite Nastaria (Outstrip). The 6/4 shot has had some bad luck in his races of late but won here convincingly in the hands of regular pilot Miguel Lopez for trainer Anne Schleusner-Fruhriep. She put 2 ½ lengths between her and the second Atlantica (Mastercraftsman) who held the third Wedding in May (Sea the moon) by a nose. Natural Gift from Godolphin finished fourth. 

The listed fillies race Hoppegartner Stuten Preis over 1800m (1m 1f) went to the Henk Grewe trained Koffi Kick (Zarak) under Leon Wolf. Having won two of her last three starts in handicaps. She took the step up to listed class in her stride to master Royal Night (Acclamation) and the Godolphin even money favourite Mountain Song (Sea the Stars).

All in all it was a very successful Raceday for the Berlin racecourse and owner Gerhard Schoening.

Looking forward to the coming weekend we do have plenty of racing with Saarbrucken on Friday, Mulheim on Saturday and a double header of Hannover and Dusseldorf on Sunday. Top class racing takes a back seat as we gear up to the big Baden-Baden meet last week in August, but Hannover does have a stayer's listed race for fillies 2400 meters (1m 4f) and Dusseldorf the same standard over 1600 meters (1 mile). 

In Hannover should Wedding in May reproduce her form of a week ago she could go two places better now. The Bohumil Nederostek Sea the Moon daughter will be the mount of Eduardo Pedroza, Carmen Bocskai is doubly represented with two high rated fillies in Kammuri Diamond and Techno Beat.Where Waldemar Hickst goes three handed with Namouria, Lydia and Partnun. Gambia Sun could be an outsider of interest. 

In Dusseldorf only seven will go to post for the mile Grosser Sparkasse - Familien Cup. It’s a trappy contest and Muhalif has been tried at everything from 1300m (6 ½ f) to 2000m (1m 22) of late, but this mile looks the horses trip and with Adrie de Vries in saddle the Nedorostek trained Lawman colt could prove the answer. His second placing behind Arcandi in the Kronimus Badener Meile in Baden-Baden looks strong enough. Lightning Jack has been running to this standard of late or maybe one of the three-year-olds Ayada, Saman or Thekingofmyheart can improve to collect this Listed Race.

Shannon Spratter