So finally, the Derby weekend came with 3 days of good class racing. Somehow the excitement grows immensely as we enter those last 72 hours before the big one on Sunday, Nervous trainer´s, nothing can go wrong now in these last days because there is no more time to repair. You’re in or out, even in the stable yard its chattier than usual as the groom´s and regular travelling lads and lasses discuss the wellbeing of their main hopes. Saturday will see the first arrivals of the Derby candidates and then to Sunday, they are all there and ready to run.
We kicked off the weekend on the Friday with an early start and an eleven-race card. Main event was the Großer Preis von Lotto Hamburg., a listed race event over 1200 meters which brought together some of the faster horses in training. Clever Candy (Intello), a previous listed winner took the honors here, coming home ½ length too good for Zanadjan (Counterattack) and the French trained Aubazine (Shamardal) to give Sascha Smrczek and Jockey Bayarsaikhan Ganbat a perfect start to the weekend.
On to the Saturday and a twelve-race program starting at 11 o´clock in the morning which would include the Group II – Großer Hansa Preis. Only 5 runners went to post here, but we had two previous Derby winners returning to the track of their biggest success. Sammarco (Camelot) last year’s winner and Sisfahan (Isfahan) the Derby winner in 2021 would clash with Northern Ruler (Ruler of the World) winner of the Großer Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft Group II the previous month in Baden-Baden, and Assistent (Sea the Moon) who was trying to put a desperate run in that Baden-Baden race, where he finished last, behind him. The outsider Aff un Zo (Kalisto) made up the field. Added to the classy field came the rain to loosen up the ground in Hamburg. Northern Ruler was allowed to make the running followed by Sammarco and Aff un Zo with the Grewe trained pair Sisfahan and Assistant content to sit behind in the small field. Not much changed and turning for home you could have thrown a blanket over the 5 runners as they moved to the outer rail where Northern Ruler quickened the pace immensely. In a good battle to the line Assistant proved his run in Baden all wrong and came through to win by 1 ¼ lengths from Nothern Ruler and Sisfahan who dead-heated for 2nd place, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Sammarco and Aff un Zo. The rain had come, the Grewe horses showed their form, would Mr. Hollywood give him a Derby win tomorrow?
And then came Derby Day.
You could feel that buzz. As with all Derby Day´s, it generates its own excitement, anticipation and brings out the best in people in the racing world. The Derby would be flanked by 2 Group III filies events and two well funded Sales races, one over the mile and the other over 2200 meters. The fresh ground had taken the rain well with an official going of good to soft. This year the ground would not be an excuse for any Derby starter.
The first black type race on the 12-card program was the Group III Brümmerhofer Stuten-Meile for 3-year-old and older fillies. Ten fillies went to post for the 1600 meters contest, and it was left to the 3-year old’s to battle out the finish with Muskoka (Sea the Moon) the 13/5 favorite proving 2 lengths too good for Kamand (Isfahan) and Sunset Lane (Soldier Hollow).
Next race was the Hermann Schnabel – Gedanknissrennen GR3 for 3-year-old fillies over 2200 meters. Kassada (Sea the Moon) who had not been supplemented for the Derby was sent off the 10/11 favorite on the strenght of showing some very good form especially in the Oaks Trail in Berlin-Hoppegarten last time out. In a field of 11, everything seemed to be going to plan as she set off in front and was allowed to dictate her own pace. Andrasch Starke still looked very happy rounding the last bend as she held a 2-length lead into the straight. She was being followed by Frozen (The Grey Gatsby) and an improving Princess Zelda (Zarak) and Ultima (Amaron). Still things looked to be working out for the favorite, but Princess Zelda was closing fast on her. And so it was, caught in the last 100 yards, the twice only raced and unbeaten Princess Zelda beat the favorite by a neck on the line with Ultima staying on well for the 3rd spot, 1 ¼ lengths behind. Good performances by all three fillies as they pulled 5 lengths clear of the rest.