The English page - Snow in Munich

The last couple of weekends in our sport reflects in my opinion the general state of affairs in German Racing. Let’s go back two weekends ago and the last time we had racing in Germany, Munich’s last Raceday on the 25th of November somehow passed an inspection an hour before the first race after a blanket of snow covered the track. Now the track was probably raceable and safe enough for horse and rider, but it was definitely very heavy conditions for flat bred horses with snow lying on already heavy ground. But it got the go ahead and the Munich racecourse held its last highlight the Listed Isfahan Münchner Herbstpreis over 2200 meters (1m3f). The winner here Atoso (Guilliani) handled conditions best of all and came home two lengths clear of Palatina (Isfahan) in the hands of a very competent young lady Lilli-Marie Engels giving both horse and rider their first taste of Black type success. Third over the line, 3 ½ lengths back was Waldadler (Adlerflug) in front of the favorite Enjoy the Moon (Sea the Moon). Atoso a 4-year-old gelding was a worthy winner having improved all season and came here on the back of a good second place in the Group III Wettstar.de 33. Preis der Deutschen Einheit on his local Berlin track. A nice success for owner Ingolf Heinecke and trainer Sarka Schütz. 

End of the season in Munich and for the locals it crowned their champions. By the trainers it was Michael Figge, Werner Glanz and John David Hillis. In the jockey’s title Rene Piechulek led home Martin Seidl and the now in USA riding Gavin Ashton. By the amateures it was a tie for first place between Ines Loewe and Claudia Fleissner in front of Konstantin Philip. The day was later celebrated by all at the traditional annual Christmas Party.

But somehow it all reminded me of our Sport in General, Munich fought to save their Raceday the way the sport is trying to survive and a week later we had the first abandonment when Mülheim lost their Raceday to the weather and heavy ground.

With no racing in Mülheim, we came then to this weekend, again free from racing, but all eyes fixed on the Christmas Online Auction organised by the BBAG. 136 Lota were listed. 84 buy backs and the rest resembled something you would see on online site EHorses and from what did find new owners they were the foreign trade to Kazakhstan, Poland, Czech Republic or Switzerland and most of them for small money. The two highlights of the sale the 2-year-old Ten Sovereigns son Wikinger winner of the Ferdinand-Leisten Memorial Auction race in Baden-Baden was bought back for 155.000 Euro as was SeaeHector for 150.000 Euro. Of what was sold Muelheimer (Shalaa) was bought by Swiss interests and Agent Andi Wyss gave 35.000 Euro for him. He is French bred and the premiums will be a help.The 4-year-old Maxios colt Alaska Tiger, a 2-time winner this year found a new owner in Zharas Kanapin at 27.500 Euro, and he was one of the more active buyers. But to put this all-in perspective, Germany has no Inland market, very little investors and unfortunately is fighting what will be a very hard and long battle if it is to survive.

Shannon Spratter