The English page - Exciting finishes at Baden-Baden

For the third successive weekend Germany staged racing under the usual lockdown conditions, and once again all well went. Baden-Baden had twelve races, including two group races, on both Saturday and Sunday and one has to say that the meeting was a complete success, although the atmosphere was certainly weird with no spectators, no foreign runners and no on course betting. However the betting turnover, all off course or online, held up really well and was indeed very good by German standards, although peanuts compared to Japan, where the turnover on last week´s Oaks (Yushun Himba) – also run behind closed doors - was apparently five times more than the entire year´s turnover on all races in Germany.

Despite the lack of atmosphere, everything went well and we saw some excellent racing and exciting finishes – three of the four group races ended in a photo finish. First was the Silberne Peitsche (Silver Whip), in which Namos (Medicean) repeated his 2019 victory, but only by a short head after a desperate finish from the 45-1 outsider K Club (Kodiac), with the favourite Majestic Colt (Clodovil) a close third. The rain which had fallen steadily for some hours had made little difference but had taken the sting out of the ground and the times throughout the meeting were on the fast side. Winning trainer Dominik Moser, who now has a tall reputation as Germany´s spring king, said afterwards that he would like to run Namos in group races in the U.K., but that of course is currently out of the question.

90 minutes later the older milers were in action and once again there was a ding-dong battle throughout the final furlong, with the 5yo mare Nica (Kamsin) just getting the verdict by a short head from another 5yo, the French-bred Aviateur (Intense Focus). For trainer Dr. Andreas Bolte it was the first success in a German group race for five years and he commented: “this is poetic justice after her narrow defeat in the Oettingen-Rennen here last year.” The two are likely to meet again in the Dortmund Grand Prix over 1750 metres in three weeks´ time.

The main event on Sunday was the Group Two Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft, and this time the photo showed that Quest The Moon (Sea The Moon) had held on by a head from the filly Durance (Champs Elysees). There followed a lengthy stewards´ enquiry, but the result was allowed to stand. Quest The Moon led over a furlong out but then started drifting right and clearly irritated Durance, who was coming with a late run up the stands rail, but the interference took place very close to the finishing line. The two protagonists are both 4yo´s and had run well in their respective German classics last season; for obvious reasons they are likely to meet again this summer. Winning trainer Sarah Steinberg has her string in fine form and also saddled third-placed Wai Key Star (Soldier Hollow). She indicated that the Grosser Preis von Baden was the long range target for the winner, who is likely to be a major player in this year´s top German races.

The only group race in which there was need for a photo was the Derby Trial Frühjahrspreis, but this was still a thriller. Favourite Adrian (Reliable Man) had taken the lead one and a half furlongs out and looked the likely winner, but jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev conjured a strong late run out of Soul Train (Manduro) who did indeed finish like a train and got up 100 yards out to score cozily by a length. Soul Train was a relatively cheap BBAG yearling at 15,000 euros, but looked a very smart performer. Ironically he is not entered in the German Derby, but trainer Andreas Wöhler remarked that “we did not think with his pedigree that he would stay, but we shall now have to reconsider.” Wöhler of course has other candidates for the Derby, while much more stamina is required for the 2400 metres at Hamburg than was needed for 2000 metres here. Adrian was not disgraced in second; he was a bit one paced but this trip was probably too short for him and he remains on course for Hamburg, where his trainer Henk Grewe currently holds a very strong hand.

Another long weekend is now in store, with Dortmund on Friday, Dresden on Saturday (with a 52,000 euros sales race for 3yo´s making it the most valuable race of the season so far), Hoppegarten on Sunday and Cologne on Whit Monday. There is Group Two action at the two latter courses, with the Diana Trial on Sunday and the Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (German 2,000 Guineas) the following day. For the first time since the lockdown began, owners (only two per horse and subject to the usual strict hygiene and distancing conditions) will be allowed on to the course; this only applies to Dresden and Cologne, the local authorities at the two other tracks refused permission. With runners from the U.K, France and Ireland still barred from running here, these will be domestic affairs only, but highly interesting nonetheless.

On 2yo form French-bred Oceanic Fantasy (Make Believe) should have a good chance in the Diana Trial. She won last year´s Preis der Winterkönigin and made a pleasing debut when fourth in a strong field at Cologne over too short a distance. However two easy maiden winners this month, now moving up sharply in grade, could make life difficult for her, Henk Grewe´s Flamingo Girl (Soldier Hollow) and Sarah Steinberg´s Zamrud (Samum). The latter made a very favourable impression when winning over this CD and the runner-up then Kalifornia Queen (Lope de Vega), also trained by Grewe, has now been supplemented, although it is not easy to imagine her reversing the form.

Grewe and Steinberg could also be the main players in the German 2,000 Guineas. Grewe, who trains on the track, saddles three of the seven runners, including the likely hot favourite Rubaiyat (Aerion), who is unbeaten after five starts, including the Dr. Busch-Memorial this year, usually the best trial, in which he defeated four of Monday´s opponents. Third in that race was Steinberg´s Fearless King (Kingman), and he was a definite eyecatcher there; Grewe´s other hopes Zavaro (Areion) and Santurin (Sommerabend) also ran well enough in second and fourth on that occasion and are also by no means out of it. Rubaiyat, Germany´s Horse of the Year for 2019, will have to be at his very best to keep his unbeaten record.

David Conolly-Smith