The English page - Baden-Baden is coming

With Baden-Baden summer meeting starting this Saturday racing highlights last weekend were a little thin. A nine-race card of Handicaps on Saturday in Mulheim was followed by Duesseldorf and Hannover on the Sunday. Hannover´s main races were the Großer Preis des Audi Zentrum – Hannover Auction race which was won by the 38/1 outsider Kitty O'Shea (Ruler of the World) and the Großer Preis der Metallbau Burckhardt Listed race over 2400 meters for 3-year-olds and older fillies. Seven went to post and Nastaria (Outstrip) was sent off favorite on the back of two convincing wins in this class albeit over longer trips. This time however Nastaria showed she needed the extra trip and although staying on dourly for Miguel Lopez she just could not get to Ability (Mastercraftsman) and Robert Havlin. This one who won quite snugly by ¾ length at the line for Gestut Ittlingen and trainer Waldemar Hickst had split Alpenblume and Derida in the Holstein Cup in Hamburg during Derby week, so she was upholding the good form shown by Derida in Clairefontaine France since. Ability and Nastaria were followed home by outsiders Global Queen (Adlerflug) and Oceania (Counterattack).

Over in Düsseldorf the main events were also an Auction race, the Racebets.de BBAG over 1600 meters and here Nerion (Areion) came to the fore. The highlight on the day was the Großer Sparkassen Familien Cup a listed race over the mile for 3-year-old and upwards. With Western Soldier (Soldier Hollow) having been sold on the Thursday over the BBAG online Auction to further his career in England he was taken out leaving 8 runners going to post. Parol (Pastorius) a 6-year-old from Bohumil Nedorostek stables, dropping down from Group company for this listed race set off in front and was never headed. His Jockey Szczepan Mazur had the luxury of a couple of peeks over his shoulder in the straight as Parol galloped relentlessly under a hand and heels ride to win by 4 lengths from the French challenger Nano Nagle (Frankel) in the Godolphin blue colors, herself ¾ length in front of the good finishing Westminster Night (Morandi).

Looking forward to this weekend of course Baden-Baden kicks off on Saturday with the Group III, 68. Preis der Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe previously known as the Spreti race. The Group III contest over 2000 meters has attracted eight local runners. Best of Lips (the Gurkha) a Group III winner in Milan two starts back and 5th last time out in the Großer Dallmayr Preis Group I for Andreas Suborics and Rene Piechulek is the highest rated horse, but in an open looking race, horses like Petit Marin (Flamingo Fantasy), Bukhara (Isfahan) or Queroyal (Churchill) could all get involved or even Vintage Moon (Sea the Moon), the only 3 year old in the race.

On Sunday it’s the Group III 153. Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche over 1200 meters (6 furlongs). One of the most prestigious races in the German Calendar, the successful owner receives aside from the €32.000 first prize, a Golden Whip with all the previous winner´s engraved on it. An international affair again this year with 2 runners from Czech Republic and two from France amongst the twelve entries. Of the French entries Exxtra (Starspangledbanner) a 3-year-old filly from Carlos Lerner stables looks best whereas the Czech runner Jir Sun (Shamardal) cannot be lightly dismissed having won a listed race in Dresden last time. The German side does hold a strong hand though with Best Flying (Pedro the Great) second in this race last year as a 3-year-old, and as these Sprints are often very open races. Danelo (Exeed and Excell) or Muhalif (Lawman) could come to the fore on their best form.

Wednesday midweek card includes the Listed Coolmore Stud fillies race over 1800 meters. Five of the 18 entries come from France and one entry Giladeh (Muhaarar) from leading Irish trainer D. K. Weld. Play all Day (Kitten´s Joy) could represent Switzerland and Sir Mark Prescott from England has left in the 3-year-old filly Tiffany (Faarh) to take on the German runners which should feature the improving Extrabunt (Lord of England).

The top race on the card is the 150 Renate und Albrecht Woeste – Zukunftsrennen a Group III over the 1400 meters trip for the 2-year-olds. With two entries Lincoln Legacy (Footstepsinthesand) and Caroline Reaper (Too Darn Hot) from the English trainer Charlie Johnston and the impressive looking Les Pavots (No Nay Never) for Francis Henry Graffard, (this filly won a Group II in Deauville last time) there will be plenty to challenge the previous German Winners Emir (Millowitsch), New Emerald (Protectionist) or two-time winning and unbeaten Schützenzauber (Amaron). 

Shannon Spratter