The English page - Classic winner from UK

We had some fantastic racing last weekend and it couldn’t have been any better or more thrilling than in Germany´s first classic of the year 2024 season, the Coolmore St. Mark´s Basilica German 2000 Guineas. Maigret, the Counterattack son in the colors of Gestüt Karlshof from the Bohumil Nederostek stable just shaded favoritism for the race in front of the English horse Devil's Point, the mount of star jockey and ex English champion Silvestre de Sousa, who had just ridden the winner of the English 1000 Guineas Elmalka, two weeks earlier, on his return to European circuit this year after a spell in Hong Kong.

Devil's Point from the David Menuisier stable brought the best form from all the contestants into the Guineas having been Group III placed in Deauville earlier this year but he was also 2nd on Group O level behind the Godolphin horse Ancient Wisdom who himself had finished second to Economics in the Dante Stakes Group II at York, so he was always going to be a tough nut to crack and though that’s what he really showed here. Jumping off to make the running from the outside number 10 starting Silvestre de Sousa let his mount rock early, getting over to lead and set the fractions. He was followed by the two other English challengers Habrdi under David Egan and Ten Bob Tony and jockey Tom Marquand. Iron Man running very freely sat up in fourth whereas favorite Maigret covered up in midfield and Penalty and Thore Hammer Hansen dropped off last.

Turning for home Devils Point still had the call as Ten Bob Tony tried to keep tabs with Iron Man and Habrdi dropping away. Middle of the straight Maigret made his challenge but could not get in a blow and it was left to Ghorgan (Study of Man) to throw down a striking attack and Penalty finishing off the race best of all. Devils Point was just too tough though and held on by a neck and a neck from Penalty (Frankel) and Ghorgan with Ten Bob Tony (Night of Thunder) staying on 1 ¼ lengths away in third. Winning owner Clive Washborn in attendance spoke very highly of the Cologne track and his welcoming stay from the management. A few factors to take from the race and it will be interesting to see where the winner goes next as having won this at a mile, he still holds only one entry at Royal Ascot in the Group I Commonwealth Cup over 6f (1200 meters). Penalty showed how unlucky he was last time out and corrected that here. This being only his third start and coming from way of the pace and travelling extra yardage throughout, he was always wide, he showed how good he is, as did Ghorgan who only three weeks earlier had finished 3rd of 14 in the Italian equivalent. 

On the same card the Listed race Ursula Rosendahl-Preis over 1850 meters (1m1 ½ f) went the way of the Jean-Pierre Carvalho trained Mythico (Adlerflug). The German 2000 Guineas winner of 2021 battled hard to hold Muhalif (Lawman) by a neck with Enjoy the Moon (Sea the Moon) 3 lengths away in third. The winner is running this year in the racing colors of Haras de la Huderie and the 6-year-old was ridden by French jockey Hugo Boutin. 

Up in Hannover on the same day we had two Listed fillies aces. The Grosser Preis von Meravis for 3-year-old fillies over 2200 meters (1m 3f) was taken by Lingua Franca (Study of Man). Running in the famous Green and White colors of Kirsten Rausing and trained by the very clever trainer Sir Mark Prescott, the winner was 3 parts of a length to good for Donna Guillietta (Guiliani) from Henk Grewe with the hot favorite Weltbeste (Soldier Hollow) another 3 quarters away third. 

The Grosser Preis Hannoverchen Volksbank for 3-year-old and older fillies over 1400 meters (7f) also went to England. The outsider of the two Archie Watson trained fillies Havana Ball (Havana Grey) proved to strong for Peter Schiergens Armira (Muhaarar) coming home ¾ length in front with the biggest outsider Perfect Pic (Red Jazz) securing black type 1 ½ lengths away in third under Patrick Gibson for the trainer Aleksej Luft. The second of the Archie Watson fillies Sattwaa, having finished second in the Henkel Stutenpreis behind Shagara, could not fulfil her role as favorite and disappointed under Hollie Doyle to finish 6th of the 9 starters. 

Berlins Sunday Irish Raceday with main sponsor Luke Comer in attendance saw a good attendance of over 8.400 made their way to Hoppegarten. It was a day of mixed fortunes for two jockeys in particular, Sibylle Vogt and Rene Piechulek, whereby Vogt got injured on the arm in the first race and tried her luck on favorite Winning Soldier in the second she eventually had to give her remaining rides missing three winners and keeping her out of Hannover on Monday as well, whereas Rene Piechulek intended ride for Gestuet Ittlingen Lordano was a non-runner it left him clear to deputise for Vogt on the second Ittlingen starter Alessio in the main event the Comer Group International 53. Oleander Rennen. Alessio (Teofilio) fought tenaciously under hard Piechulek ride to win by a head from Waldadler (Adlerflug) with Nastaria (Outstrip) ¾ length away in third. The 23/10 favorite Assistent was another length back in fourth. 

Better success for the German raiders in Rome on the Sunday. The Italian Derby, the first run Derby in Europe this year was taken by the Markus Klug trained Borna (Saxon Warrior) in the Darius Racing colors. Ridden by the 10 times Champion German Jockey Andrasch Starke he came home impressively in front the Andrew Balding English trained Royal Supremacy (Make Believe) and the Italian Caos Calmo (Affaire Solitaire). The winner will head most likely to the German Derby in Hamburg now where Starke will be looking for a record breaking ninth win.

On the same card the 2022 German Derby winner, the Camelot son, Sammarco for the Gestuet Park Wiedingen, Peter Schiergen and jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev beat Goldenas (Golden Horn) last years Italian Derby winner in the Listed Premio Carlo D´Alessio over 2400 meters (1 ½ mile). It was a nice winner for the owners as they lost their flag bearing stallion Soldier Hollow only recently. 

This weekend is again very interesting in Germany with small racing in the East in Halle and Dusseldorf on the Sunday featuring the fillies classic the Wempe 104. German 1000 Guineas Group II status over the mile. It looks like having a big field going to the start with 14 entries. Five English trained fillies will take on the nine strong home team. Of the home bunch Shagara (Zarak) with Andrasch Starke holds claims been only beaten the once in her four starts to date having won the Preis der Winterkoenigin though her 2024 form was lt down when the filly she beat in the Henkel Stutenpreis in Dusseldorf, Sattwaa, was beaten in a listed event in Hannover this weekend. Lady Mary looks second best on paper having finished second to Shagara in the Winterkoenigin and two and a big run in the Group III Karin Baronin von Ullmann Schwarzgold Rennen in Cologne finishing 2nd to Queues Likely, who reopposes here, though finishing her race off well. 

The English will again be hard to beat with aforementioned Queues Likely though I don’t think she will get the easy lead like last time in Cologne and Darnation from Karl Burkes stables. The Two Darn Hot filly won 3 from 5 starts at two years including the Group II May Hill Stakes at Doncaster before finishing the season with a 5th place in the Group I Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac. She will be ridden by Adrie de Vries, fresh back from a successful winter stint in Dubai. Another good Raceday to enjoy in Germany before we all get to Baden-Baden the following weekend.

Shannon Spratter