The English page - Grand Prix and German Oaks

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. The ground suited, she got into a nice rhythm in her race and the track helped as the runners drifted to the outside – she got a dream run inside and stayed on dourly to beat Dancing Tango (Camelot) and Baiykara (Zarak) with the other German runner Mysticara (Zezal) 2 ½ lengths away in 5th. Ridden by stable jockey Rene Piechulek for Stall Salzburgs Derida a 3 times winner added now Black type winning form.

On the same card Peter Schiergen´s Lord Charming (Charm Spirit) was beaten a head as favorite by Douriann (Golden Horn) in the Listed Prix ferme St. Simeon over the 1800 meters trip. For the Rennstall Gestüt Hachsee and again with Rene Piechulek, Lord Charming looked all over the winner but was touched off. Mythico (Adlerflug from Jean-Pierre Carvalho stables finished 2 lengths behind in fifth.

Sunday then was Dallmayr Day in Munich. Over 15.000 spectators and though Munich had seen some very heavy rain the previous days the track presented itself in top condition with the ground riding good, as leading international jockey William Buick stated like a carpet.

First race on the card, a 2-year-old maiden produced and eye-catching performance from Real Love (Sea the Moon- Romance Story) trained by Waldemar Hickst for Gestüt Ittlingen. Booked Jockey Thore Hammer Hansen arrived late at the track due to traffic problems and had to be replaced last minute by Wladimir Panov, then in the preliminaries she lost a shoe and had to be reshoed. Eventually putting all that behind this debutant race very professionally to win comfortably by 1 ½ lengths. One to watch for the future.

Sixth race on the card was the Konrad Werner Wille – Memorial a listed fillies race over 1400 meters. The eight-runner field had attracted two French trained runners and it was the Christophe Ferland trained Kimi Orenda (Bated Breath) who coasted to a 1 ¼ length victory over Dishina (Soldier Hollow) with Look at Me (Pastorious) a further 2 lengths behind the third place and the other French runner Malipami (Ribchester) back in 4th.

So, to the Bavarian highlight, the Großer Dallmayr Preis, Group I over the 2000 meters trip with international flair. Fantastic Moon, the German Derby winner for Liberty Racing, Sarah Steinberg and Rene Piechulek would be sent off the 6/4 favorite for the spectacle even though the 3-year-old Sea the Moon son was taking on older horses for the first time. The 4-year-old Nations Pride (Teofilio), the Godophin owned and from the powerful Charlie Appleby stables in England would be a real test for the Munich stable and Skalleti (Kendargent) although now 8-year-old or Sammarco, two previous winners of this event were not to be discounted either.

14.56 start time and boxes open to the cheers of a vocal crowd. First Drama! Petit Marin anticioated the start and went backwards, unseating Andrasch Starke in the stalls and didn’t take part. The other six runners set off but none of them really wanted to set the pace, so Nations Pride and William Buick took the initiative and went to the front. Going into the back straight he was followed by the Suborics trained pair Best of Lips and Best Lightning with Fantastic Moon, Sammarco and Skalleti in rear. No position changed till on entering the straight as William Buick could set his own fractions on Nations Pride and held a two-length advantage at the top of the Munich straight. At the 400-meter pole Buick let out a bit of reign and set Nations Pride alight and his charge quickened impressively and although Fantastic Moon and Skalleti gave chase they had no answer to the winners’ power. It was a very comfortable 3 lengths at the post than Fantastic Moon and after Skalleti the same distance back in 3rd a ½ length in front of Sammarco. The winner was given an official German rating of 101 kg which we don’t see so often, Ghaiyyath and Danedream the best with 103 kg so we see how high the German Handicapper thinks of this performance.

It was nice to see the following race in Memorial of this column´s long time correspondent David Conolly-Smith and the best Handicap on the day was won by the Andreas Wöhler trained, Josef Bojko ridden Westminster Night (Morandi). When Westminster Night returned to the Winner circle, it started with a few raindrops, but I called it the Champagne Shower from David, as he loved Champagne. I knew he was sending the sun for the pictures straight after So this was my personal highlight of the day.

Looking forward

Another big weekend in the German Racing Calender with the German Oaks, the 165. Henkel-Preis der Diana being run on Sunday in Düsseldorf. This 500.000 added 3-year-old fillies Group I event over 2200 meters has attracted a good strong field of 14 fillies.

The field is led by Kassada (Sea the Moon) who will this time be partnered by Maxim Pecheur as regular rider and stable jockey Andrasch Starke picked up a 4-day ban which rules him out. This year Kassada was unbeaten and had looked highly impressive before being turned over by Princess Zelda in Hamburg. Weracruz (Cracksman) from Peter Schiergen stable with Rene Piechulek holds strong credentials on her last start a 3rd place run in the German Derby 5 length behind Fantastic Moon who upheld the form in the Group I Dallmayr Preis last Sunday. She looks in the form the obvious favorite and the one to beat as she stays well and handles all conditions.

Henk Grewe relys on the Sea the Moon daughter Muskoka who is 3 win and 2 second places from 5 starts with a Group 3-win last time in Hamburg. Grewes knows the form here well as he also trains Princess Zelda who beat Kassada and also Mr. Hollywood who finished 2nd one place in front of Weracruz in the Derby. Andreas Wöhler has two interesting runners View Zabeel and Lady Ewelina. View Zabeel (Saxon Warrior) finished second in the Italian equivalent and will be ridden by Oliver Peslier while stable Jockey Eduardo Pedroza has opted for Lady Ewlina (Mukhadram). Having started racing in Warsaw (Poland), she captured a Group III in Cologne and finished 7th last time in the French Oaks at Chantilly.

Last year champion 2-year-old Quantanamera (Lope de Vega) has found no form this year in two runs but if she comes back could get involved.
Two French challenger add depth to the field and Sea the Lady (Sea the Moon) from Yann Barberots stable looks interesting. Clement Lecoeuvre continues the partnership, and she was beaten just under 2 lenghts in the Prix Saint-Alary Group I in Longchamp by some very good fillies. The second French starter Calmly, a Dubawi filly has been supplemented for 50.000€ by Jerome Reynier for owner Team Valor. She should get the ground she likes but on all known form has quite a bit to find but maybe she has done some good homework.

It all makes for Ultima as an outsider could run a place at 20/1, a very interesting race this year. Also, on the Düsseldorfer card is the Group III – Fritz Henkel Preis for 3-year-olds and older over 1600 meters. Amazingly no Foreign runner and 8 will go to post. 

Shannon Spratter