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The English page - No problem for Dschingis Secret

Dschingis Secret, winning the Gerling-Preis by a wide margin. www.galoppfoto.de - Sandra Scherning

Autor: 

David Conolly-Smith

TurfTimes: 

Ausgabe 467 vom Donnerstag, 11.05.2017

Some very interesting racing last weekend, particularly on Sunday at Cologne, but unfortunately the main event, the Group Two Gerling-Preis for older horses over a mile and a half, lost some of its attraction when the likely favourite Savoir Vivre (Adlerflug) was found to be running a temperature and had to be scratched. Savoir Vivre had run a very close second in that controversial finish to last year´s German Derby. In his absence, Dschingis Secret (Soldier Hollow) – a neck behind him that time – started a clear favourite and won very easily, taking the lead one and a half furlongs out and going well clear to score by six lengths.

It looked very impressive and was certainly a smart performance, although it must be admitted that this was not the best Group Two of all time, and some of the beaten horses were not up to group race standard. The handicapper has put him up two pounds to 117, which seems reasonable. Trainer Markus Klug was obviously very pleased: “The horse has improved since last year and we shall probably go next for the Coronation Cup.” Dschingis Secret was also entered for the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe this week, as was Savoir Vivre (eighth in the race last year) with four other German-trained entries. This victory could also have repercussions on the series of objections launched by the connections of Dschingis Secret against the first two in the 2016 Derby; one must hope that this unhappy, indeed ridiculous, episode is now at an end.

Runner-up in the Gerling-Preis was Sirius (Dashing Blade), a Group One winner two years ago but probably no longer able to run up to his old rating; trainer Andreas Suborics has accepted this and will probably aim him now at some of the lucrative long distance races in France. Third home was the filly Kasalla (Soldier Hollow), also trained by Markus Klug, who will probably go next for the Group Two at Baden-Baden over eleven furlongs, the second leg in the German Racing Champions League. She just held on for third from the French filly Tres Rock Glory (Fastnet Rock), who finished well and will also now contest races over further.

The main supporting feature was a listed race over a mile and Millowitsch (Seherezad) made all the running under Andreas Helfenbein to score by a length from Wonnemond (Areion), who ran an excellent race considering he was conceding three kilos to the winner. Wonnemond had previously won a Group Three at Düsseldorf with four of these opponents – including Millowitsch – behind him. Millowitsch, always popular in Cologne as he is named after a well-known local character is trained by Markus Klug, who thus took both the day´s top events. However his other runner in the mile race, Degas (Exceed and Excel) was a major disappointment, starting as 5-2 favourite but only finishing fifth after never looking like a serious contender. All these runners are likely to meet again in the Badener Meile at the end of the month.

The above races were for older horses, but we also saw a very promising three-year-old run at Cologne. That was Stall Ullmann´s homebred Instigator (Nayef), who won the nine furlongs maiden on his debut in really eye-catching style. Only fifth with a furlong to run, he suddenly quickened in the final 100 yards to get up close home and win by half a length from Klaus Hofmann´s homebred A Kind of Magic (Rip van Winkle), who was also noted running on well. This looked a strong maiden on paper and the first two should both be followed. Instigator´s trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho suggested afterwards that Instigator could be one of his German Derby contenders, and will run next in one of the trials.

Older horses will again be in the spotlight this weekend, where the main event is the Comer Group International Oleander-Rennen over two miles. This race has been upgraded to Group Two this year and the racecourse has been rewarded with a huge field of 16 runners, including one each from England, Denmark and Poland. This is Germany's top staying race and has often provided valuable clues to Cup races in other countries. This is likely to be the case again, especially as the winner here gets a free entry to the Belmont Gold Cup, while the first three get a free entry to the Irish St. Leger, which is also sponsored by the Comer Group, and there is also a deal agreed with the Goodwood Cup. With the Irish property group Comer as title sponsor, it is Irish Race Day at Hoppegarten, with lots of craic fueled by Guinness and Irish bands and dance groups performing.

The race itself looks very open. The British challenger, Hughie Morrison´s Nearly Caught (New Approach) is top-rated but has to give away weight. Andreas Wöhler has an excellent record here and his entry, Australian-owned Red Cardinal (Montjeu), is an obvious danger as he begins his preparation for his main target, the Melbourne Cup. Markus Klug´s Near England (Lord of England), winner of last year´s German St. Leger is another local hope, with Danish challenger Fields of Athenry (Galileo) – third in the 2015 Doncaster St. Leger – and Polish hope Caccini (American Post) also in with good chances.

David Conolly-Smith

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