The English page - Big weekend ahead

Classic weekend in Dortmund: on Sunday Dortmund staged its 139th Deutsches St. Leger sponsored by Wettstar.de. Run over 2800 meters (1m6f) this now Group III event attracted 11 runners this year. In olden days it was always regarded as the toughest classic to win as it took a hardened 3-year-old to go through his season till September then take on the 2800 meters trip on mostly good to soft ground. Even on Sunday’s good ground it took a good tough stayer to win the last classic of the season. Lordano (Adlerflug) winner of five of his seven starts now, went one better than full brother Loft, a top stayer who finished 2nd in the St. Leger in 2021 thereby adding this traditioal Classic to his listed win last time out in Baden-Baden. Trained by Marcel Weiss for Gestüt Ittlingen he ran out an easy 2 ¾ lengths winner here and proved he is the up-and-coming stayer in Germany. Steering him to success for the 4th time now was Rene Piechulek who can do nothing wrong at present and is riding on the crest of a wave. Princess Zelda (Zarak) stayed on well for second place having had to change course a couple of times in the straight and proved how genuine she is at only 3 years of age. The hardened five-year-old Aff un Zo (Kallisto) finished a neck behind in third. For the winner the Melbourne Cup 2024 could be a long term project. 

Parallel to Dotmund, Hannover staged the Grosser Preis der Privatbank ODDO a listed fillies race over 2000 meters (1m ¼ m). Here it was the English trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, who provided the winner for owners Elite Racing Club England as Tiffany, a 3-year-old daughter of Farhh ran out a comfortable 1 ¼ length winner from Ability (Mastercraftsman) and Global Queen (Adlerflug).

Outside of Germany, Andreas Suborics sent Evina (Kodiac) to Milan, Italy, to contest the Premio Pietro Bessero, a listed race over 1600 meters (1mile). She was accompanied by the Ralf Rohne trained Eliana (Lucky Lion). If was a fruitful trip for both as Evina came home the winner followed by Eliana and Hey Honey (Adaay) for Italy in third.

Godolphin on sunday

Yes, we see how small the world has become and just how Global our Racing Industry is nowadays as starting off this weekend’s racing is Dresden on the Saturday with their yearly highlight the Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Dresden taking center stage on a seven-race afternoon programme. The Group III contest over the 1400 meters (7f) trip has attracted a full field of 12 runner´s. It’s a strong field this year including the Archie Watson trained Roman Mist being supplemented. The 5-year-old Holy Roman Emperor filly is a two-time listed winner and Group III placed in her homeland England. Andrasch Starke takes the ride. Sivka Burka (Siyouni) will represent France. Trained by Fabrice Chappet this three times winner including at listed class will be the mount of Theo Bachelot.

Jir Sun (Shamardal) winner here in Dresden of a Listed race on his previous start and Worth Choice 2nd in that race, travel from the Czech Republic. The German home team though are very strong Zerostress (Areion) will have his regular French pilot Hugo Beslier in the saddle having won two of their last three starts together including the Group III and Germanys most significant sprint race the Goldene Peitsche in Baden-Baden last time. Trainer Sascha Smrczek will again be doubly represented with the third from that Baden-Baden race Clever Candy (Intello) also running. The horse I like though to cause an upset is Zandjan (Counterattack) who was beaten under 3 lengths in the Goldene Peitsche after encountering a horrible passage throughout. Other of note in an interesting field are the Andreas Wöhler trained pair Danelo (Exceed and Excel) and Westminster Nights (Morandi).

Of course, the real weekend Highlight is on the Sunday in Cologne and the nine-race programme featuring the 61. Preis von Europa Group I over 2400 meters (1 ½ miles). Nine runners will go to post. The Godolphin Team have decided to leave last year’s winner Rebels Romance out of this years race but Charlie Appleby has supplemented Siskany (Dubawi) as his alternative. Siskany won the Group II Belmont Gold Cop on his last start over 3200 meters (2 mile) and will again have star jockey William Buick in saddle. Also representing Godolphin from Saaed bin Suroors stable and also a late supplement is Live Your Dream (Iffraaj). The 6-year-old gelding has been running in all the top staying handicaps in England all season and comes with a good 3rd place from the Ebor Handicap last time out.

Trevaunance (Muhaarar) will have Hollie Doyle in saddle and makes the longer journey from the Jessica Harrington stables in Ireland. She finished 4th in the Prix Jean Romanet Group I on her penultimate start one place in front of Darkaniya, who won the Group II in Baden-Baden, and Trevaunance has since finished third in the Blandford Stake Group II at the Curragh. That’s the Foreign challengers to the German home team which will include the 3-year-old Straight. Again, with Jozef Bojko in saddle this lad has won the Union Group II in Cologne and after a disappointing Derby run when sent off favorite, he returned to his best to go down a neck and ½ length to Zagrey and Mr. Hollywood in the Grosser Preis von Baden-Baden Group I when reunited with Jozef Bojko. The older brigade of Assistent (Sea the Moon), Sisfahan (Isfahan), Best of Lips (The Gurkha) are all tough and hardened campaigners as is the filly India (Adlerflug) who will have Rene Piechulek in the plate. Sirjan (Zarak) will start as the outsider and completes the field.

Amy Murphy is sending Geologist (Territories) to the Winterkönigin Trial, a listed contest over 7 1/2 furlongs für 2yo follies. It's their sixth run of the season and she has won at Ripon and was placed in a Group III in Deauville. She finished 2nd of 15 in a €100.000 Auctions Race last time in Newmarket and will be a nice test for the local horses. The team also run Kapparis Kid (Inns of Court) in the 1600 meters (1mile) maiden on the card, a travelling companion for Geologist. Shagara (Zarak) won well in Mülheim on debut for Markus Klug and Andrasch Starke and owners Gestüt Schlenderhan and could progress here. All the six German representatives have shown good class placed form in good maidens and this will show where they stand for the future.

Christian von der Recke sends two horses to Meran (Italy) this weekend. Master Debonair will contest the Group I Gran Corsa Siepi over 4000 meters (2 ½ meters) and Dotia Boy the Premio Steeplechase d´Italia Group II. Hakim Tabet will ride both horses. 

Shannon Spratter