The English page - Godolphin clean up at Baden

Last weekend was the busiest of the year in European racing. We had the St. Leger meeting in Doncaster, the Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and The Curragh, the Grand Prix de Paris and the Arc trials at Longchamp and in this country, the final days of Baden-Baden´s Grosse Woche. In all there were ten Group One and twelve Group Two races run, and it is interesting to see where the winners came from. Eight Group One winners were trained in Ireland (five by Aidan O´Brien and his sons) and the other two in the U.K.; six of the Group Two winners were trained in the U.K., five in Ireland and one in Germany. None was trained in France. It is quite clear that the balance of power has swung quite dramatically to England and Ireland in recent years and the French have gone almost empty-handed in the top events. Germany, with its relatively tiny breeding and racing industry, has kept up well enough, although it can hardly compete on level terms with the Irish and the British battalions. However it is not long since Danedream won the Arc and the following year the King George, a race which then went next time to Novellist, both German-bred and up to the time of their major successes, German-owned. And last year Waldgeist, although bred in England (at the Jacobs family-owned Newsells Park) and trained in France, but basically a German horse and also entirely German-owned, won the Arc. The situation is therefore not nearly so bad here as it is in France or also Italy.

The trend was continued last week at Baden-Baden, where two British-trained runners finished first and second in the Grosser Preis von Baden, still Germany´s most prestigious event. And two days earlier, in the Group Two Oettingen-Rennen, arguably Germany´s top mile race and previously sponsored by Darley, two Godolphin-owned runners took the first two places, with the favourite, Henri-Alex Pantall´s 4yo filly Half Light (Shamardal) caught on the line by the Mark Johnston-trained Dark Vision (Dream Ahead). Half Light, who had a Group Three at Hamburg´s Derby meeting and then finished an excellent second in the Group One Prix Rothschild at Deauville, looked certain to win in the final furlong when sweeping the lead on the wide outside, but Franny Norton conjured an amazing late run out of Dark Vision, who had been clear last most of the way, and they led in the very last stride to score by a nose. Rubaiyat (Areion), runner-up in both the German and Italian 2,000 Guineas this season, was a close third and the best of the 3yo´s in the field. Dark Vision had been a smart 2yo, winning the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, but was right back to his best here and this was his first win since then. He could now run at Newmarket next week, but is also entered in the Group One mile race at Ascot´s Champion Stakes meeting, while Rubaiyat could go for the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc day, but – according to trainer Henk Grewe- only if the going is soft.

Saturday´s main event was the Group Two T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis for fillies and mares, which ended with a positive result for the classic crop, will 3yo´s taking the first four places. And also confirming the form of the Preis der Diana (German Oaks) to boot. Zamrud (Samum) and Virginia Joy (Soldier Hollow), second and third behind Miss Yoda at Düsseldorf, now finished first and second, although the former´s advantage was this time much more clear cut. Zamrud won by 2 ½ lengths and appeared to have a great deal in hand. The Gestüt Hachtsee homebred could well take on the colts next time in the Grpsser Preis von Bayern at her home track of Munich, where she is trained by Sarah Steinberg. Mark Johnston´s Rose of Kildare (Make Believe), earlier third in the German 1,000 Guineas, was third again, a neck behind Virginia Joy. The latter, a most consistent performer who has never yet been out of the money, is also entered in the Munich race.

The Grosser Preis von Baden on Sunday was of course the best race of the meeting, but had a disappointing result from the German point of view, with Godolphin´s Barney Roy (Excelebration) scoring from Mark Johnston´s Communiqué (Casamento), with the best locally-trained runner Torquator Tasso (Adlerflug) in third. Torquator Tasso had previously been runner-up in the German Derby while Kaspar (Pivotal), seventh this time, had passed the post in fourth but was later promoted to third. This was particularly frustrating, as only a few minute earlier Derby winner In Swoop (Adlerflug) had been an excellent runner-up in the Grand Prix de Paris, so that hopes that the German Derby form might be much better than we had thought were quickly dashed. However it was a very tactical race, run at an extremely slow pace, which was set by Franny Norton on Communiqué. James Doyle always had Barney Roy handily placed in fourth, while the main German hopes were held up at the rear. Doyle made his move on the turn into the short straight and quickly went past Communiqué, staying on strongly to the line. Communiqué kept on gamely for second, with the favourite Torquator Tasso finishing well but much too late, a neck back in third and the fillies Donjah (Teofilo) and Durance (Champs Elysees) very close in fourth and fifth.

The time of the race, 2 minutes 39.52, was very slow especially in view of the fast ground, and connections of the beaten horses all complained that it was a false run race. This of course is true, but credit is due to Norton and Doyle, who were able to take advantage of the situation, while it is up to the trainers involved to ensure a fast pace if that is what is needed. As it was, Barney Roy was clearly the best horse on the day. Any stamina doubts were to a great extent negated by the slow pace and fast ground. James Doyle, who ridden Barney Roy to win Royal Ascot´s St. James´s Palace Stakes in 2017, commented afterwards: “I always thought Barney Roy would be a top class miler after that, but Charlie Appleby was convinced he would stay a mile and a half and he was right!”

This was Barney Roy´s third Group One success of the year after victories in Meydan (1800 metres) and Munich (2000). He could run next in Ascot´s Champion Stakes, but apparently targets in North America are also being considered. He was Godolphin´s third successive winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden, following Best Solution (Kodiac) in 2018 and Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) last year. Both of those went on to further international Group One glory and we must hope that Barney Roy, seemingly as good as ever at the age of six, does the same.

This weekend´s racing is obviously nowhere up to last week´s standards, but there is a good card on Sunday at Dortmund with the German St. Leger as the main event, and at Hanover, with two listed races for fillies and mares. The St.Leger is a Group Three race and open to older horses – indeed, all seven declared runners are 4yo´s! The only foreign runner is the filly Vivid Diamond (Caper Cross), trained by Mark Johnston, who has won this race before and whose German raiders can never be underestimated (see Baden-Baden results). Markus Klug´s much improved Sommelier (Soldier Hollow) and Peter Schiergen´s pair Calico (Soldier Hollow) and Quian (Mastercraftsman) look best of the Germans, although Apadanah (Holy Roman Emperor) would be a big danger if she gets off on terms. However she has frequently lost all chance at the start.

The fillies´ and mares´ listed races at Hanover do not look so exciting, with no foreign runners and most fillies moving up in class in the hope of winning some cheap black type. The 1800 metres race can in our view be narrowed down to Yasmin Almenräder´s Vive en Liberté (Soldier Hollow) and Jan Korpas´ Paloma One (Rio de la Plata); the former is penalized, so the latter is just preferred. Our short list over 2000 metres comprises Andreas Wöhler´s Candy Crush (Lord of England), Miltcho Mintchev´s Tabera (Gleneagles) and Flamingo Queen (Soldier Hollow) representing the strong Henk Grewe/ Andrasch Starke team.

David Conolly-Smith