The English page - The Derby in sight

Last Sundays double header, Berlin-Hoppegarten in the morning and Krefeld in the afternoon produced some good racing. Starting in Berlin, where racing got underway at 11 o’clock, they ran an eight-race programme with the Listed Altano-Rennen over 2800 meters (1m 6f) the main attraction. Nine went to post for this stayers event with the Andreas Woehler representative Crystal Estrella for Team Valor being sent off favorite and although running a good race the Iffraaj filly could manage a third place at the winning line, 3 lengths and a neck behind the cozy winner Waldadler (Adlerflug) and Nastaria (Outstrip). The Winner came into the race with the best credentials having finished third behind Assistent and Best of Lips in the Gran Prix Aufgalopp in Cologne 4 weeks earlier. Trained by Pavel Vovcenko for Stall Kalifornia and ridden by Sibylle Vogt he powered home for an easy win. 

In the afternoon all eyes ventured over to Krefeld and the Große-Online-Banking-Preis-Dr. Busch-Memorial a trial for the 3-year-olds over 1700 meters (1m ½f). The Group III produced another nice winning type in the Gestuet Karlshofs, Counterattack son Maigret. Unbeaten in two starts at two including at listed class he stepped up on those performances here, running out a 2 ¾ length winner from New Emerald (Protectionist) and the favorite Wonderful Boy (Sea the Moon). Interesting winning Jockey Lukas Delozier´s assessment of the horse after the race, “he is very very good, he is still very very green but has a big motor” quote. It will be interesting to see what route the future holds for him as he doesn’t hold a Derby entry. 

The 3-year-old maiden on the day was always going to be of interest because of the well touted Tiamo Hilleshage, a full brother to German Champion and Arc winner Torquato Tasso and like him trained by Marcel Weiss. Though running a sound race he just could never handle the impressive winner Any Moon (Sea the Moon). Running in the famous Gestuet Schlenderhahn colors and trained in Krefeld by Markus Klug, this brother to an Australian Group I winner galloped relentlessly in the hands of stable Jockey Andrasch Starke to put six lengths between him and the second at the post. He has entered the calculations for the German Derby on this debut effort. 

Over in France on the day, the German representatives in Paris-Longchamp found it all tough going. Fantastic Moon´s anticipated good run in the Group I, Prix Ganay never materialized. He dropped away tamely in the straight to finished last of the nine runners, well behind the tough winner Haya Zark (Zarak) who beat Zarir (Frankel) and Feed the Flame (Kingsman). Reports after the race from the rider Rene Piechulek he never relaxed, was always doing too much and didn’t breathe properly. 

The listed Prix de l´Avre over 2400 meters (1 ½ m) on the card saw two, once-raced winning three-year-old German horses take on the French in the 8 runners contest. Anspruch (New Bay) looked really good when winning his maiden in cologne and Shahbazi (Adlerflug) the same in Berlin, but they were clearly put in their place here finishing 5th and 6th behind 4/1 shot Trafalgar Square (Kendargent), Mister Gatz (Adlerflug) and Talise (Inner Sea). 

In Rome Ghorgan (Study of Man) ran a fine race to finish third of 14 in the Italian 2000 Guineas behind the winner Melfi (Kesaar) and Maturio (Starspangledbanner). Ghorgan representing Darius Racing and trained by Andreas Woehler was ridden by English pilot Jack Mitchell. In the 1000 Guineas Three Havanas (Havana Grey) took 6th place behind winner Beenham (Havana Grey). 

Wednesday the first of May, a holiday in Germany and we had a host of good racing on three tracks, Munich, Hannover and Leipzig. Munich was the main programme and their 8-race card featured the Wettstar.de Bavarian Classic. This renowned Derby Trial had produced a splendid race last year with Mr Hollywood for Henk Grewe winning the event and Fantastic Moon finishing third. They would go on to finish one, two in the Derby albeit in reverse order. Again, this year it was Henk Grewe who produced the winner. Wilko (Mastercraftsman) running in the colors of Stall Helena and under young jockey talent Leon Wolff ran out a comfortable 1 ½ length winner from Alleno (Nathaniel) and the favorite Wintertraum (Lord of England). Wilko was given a quote of a 14/1 for the German Derby. For 20yr old Leon Wolff it was his first win at Group class, but it definitely not be his last. On the day he rode a treble including the best handicap race. For trainer Henk Grewe, who´s horses are running out of their skins of late also had three winners. 

Up in Hannover the day belonged to Sibylle Vogt who rode 4 winners including the 3-year-old Argentum (Zoffany) for her boss Peter Schiergen. Racing in the colors of syndicate Liberty Racing this impressive winner will now take his chance in the Italian Derby. The two listed races, the Grosser Preis von Hannover 96, over 1300 meters (6 ½ f) went to Danelo (Exceed and Excel) under Andrasch Starke and the Grosser Preis von Rossmann 2000 meters (1m 2f) was taken by the 4-year-old Nathaniel daughter Understated, racing for owners Australian Bloodstock and Trainer Andreas Woehler. Stable Jockey Eduardo Pedroza was in the plate. 

Racing continues in Dusseldorf which holds the Henkel Stutenpreis a listed race for three-year-old fillies. At the moment nine have stood their ground with possible Shagara (Zarak) for Markus Klug and Waldfrieda (Blue Point) for Andreas Woehler looking the strongest contenders.

Shannon Spratter