The English page - Group One races ahead

The highlight of last weekends racing was the Group III Furstenberg Rennen over 2400 meters (1m 4f) in Berlin-Hoppegarten in very warm conditions, the ground was officially given as good, over 6.600 paying customers came through the turnstiles to see the nine strong field contest the contest. At the end of the 1½ mile contest the crowd were treated to a thrilling finish with a nose and head separating the first three home.

Tunnes under Andrasch Starke was sent off the 7/4 favourite and it looked like he would take the contest when he took up the running early straight from the long-time leader Lips Prince and Starke sent him for home. Best of Lips (The Gurkha) followed him through having raced midfield throughout as did Mr Hollywood (Iquitos) coming strongly from rear under Thore Hammer Hansen. All three battled hard from the furlong pole but Best of Lips stuck his head out bravely to deny Tunnes (Guiliani) in the last metres, with Mr Hollywood a head away in third. The two Peter Schiergen trained runners Sammarco and the 3-year-old Argentum actually dead-heated for fourth place. Best of Lips ridden here by French Jockey for Andreas Suborics and Owners Stall Lintec is a good tough sort and a good horse when he gets his favourite conditions. That was career win number seven for him. He a Preis des Winterfavoriten Group II winner at two and a Dr Busch Memorial and Union winner at three and has won at Group III level twice in Italy, the Gran Premio de Milano in 2023 and again this year in 2024. He is without doubt the one of the better progeny of his sire the Gallileo son The Gurkha.

Looking forward and although the Bad Harzburg festival continues all eyes will be on Munich this weekend with the tracks seasonal highlight the Grosser - Dallmayr- Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen taking pride of place nine race programme and it should be a fantastic day. Nine will go to post for the Group I contest and really it hard to see anything else being favourite or beating the Sarah Steinberg local champion Fantastic Moon. Running for Liberty Racing Syndicate stable jockey Rene Piechulek rides and last years Derby winner should have everything to suit, 2000meters (1m 2f) and good ground. After a disappointing run in the Group I Prix Ganay in Longchamp he corrected that run and got his season back on track in the Group II Grosser Preis von Weltstar.de in Cologne last time out beating Lordano. His biggest dangers could be the three-year-olds. 

Penalty for Grewe/Sauren/Hammer Hansen steps up again in trip having finished second to Devils Point in the German 2000 guineas over the mile and a win in the Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft Group III last time. Wintertraum from Waldemar Hickst will have the assistance from champion Bauyrzhan Murzabayev from the saddle and the Lord of England son having won the Listed Merkur Spielbanken Derby Trial in Dusseldorf, did not have the best of runs in this years Derby staying on from a long way back to finish 6th of 18 beaten just under 4 lengths behind Palladium.

From the older brigade the ex-German trained Calif could be a danger. He seems to have improved with age and a Dubai winter and now running for French trainer Carlos & Yann Lerner will be the mount of Adrie de Vries. This former Badener mile winner under de Vries won a Group III in Longchamp last time out. The Andreas Wohler pair straight and Westminster Moon would have to improve to beat Fantastic Moon you would think as would Downtown, Muhalif and Quantanamera and will be outsiders. 

The supportive race the Konrad Werner Wille memorial 1400m (7f) listed race for fillies has attracted a big field of thirteen. Whispering Dreams running in the Godolphin blue silks will be sent from the French trainer Henri-Alex-Pantall stables and has the highest rating in the field. She has been beaten every time she was tried at Listed level in France but did win a Class B handicap Last time in Saint- Cloud. Her Lands colleague Sheyna trained by Satoshi Kobayashi was well beaten in Hannover last but tries again.

Havana Ball comes from Archie Watsons English stable and Hollie Doyle flying in for the ride is an interesting arrangement. Well beaten in Deauville last time she did win at listed level in Hannover the previous start. Of the home team Words of Peace has been group placed this year and was 6th in the 1000 Guineas though beaten last time in a Chantilly listed race where she finished 5th of 9. Blueridge Silver ran a good third last time not beaten far in a listed event in Dortmund. All in all its a wide open fillies event and it could throw up a surprize winner.

Shannon Spratter