28 September 2019 Content Imprint
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ai Issue 125 – 28th September 2019 Hello, and welcome to the latest Anglo German Racing Newsletter of 2019! In this 2 week edition, we review the German St. Leger at Dortmund, and the Group 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne, both of which saw victories for English-trained runners. We also look back at an exciting steeplechase in Mannheim, and preview a Group 3 contest in Düsseldorf. Further afield, we review the Austrian Derby, the biggest steeplechase of the year in Slovakia, and victory for a Scottish jockey in one of Scandinavia’s biggest races, the Stockholm Cup. We also look back at victory for a former English trained horse in Kazakhstan’s richest race of the year. Looking ahead, we preview a big race in Poland and one of mainland Europe’s richest steeplechases, the 250,000 Euro Gran Premio Merano Alto Adige in the Italian Alps. For all the very latest information, please follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/anglogermanracing or check out our website at www.anglogermanracing.com . Don’t forget that we are now also on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AngloGerRacing Darren Thrussell, Editor Photo left: The Stanislav Popelka trained AL BUSTAN, who aims to repeat his victory in the 2017 Group 1 Gran Premio Merano Alto Adige, one of mainland Europe’s top steeplechases, when this year’s renewal of the race takes place at Merano in the Italian Alps on Sunday, and there is a preview on page 8 of this newsletter (Archive photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing). Postal address Content Hattendorffstr. 83 News/Reviews Germany – Pages 2-4 29225 Celle News/Reviews Europe – Page 5-8 GERMANY Imprint Email address [email protected] Anglo German Racing [email protected] Chief Editor: Darren Thrussell Published weekly News Round-Up - Germany GODOLPHIN STAR IN GERMAN ST. LEGER VICTORY Just two weeks after Ghaiyyath romped to an incredible 14 length victory in the Grosser Preis von Baden, the Godolphin operation headed by Sheikh Mohammed landed another German prize when ISPOLINI, trained like Ghaiyyath by Charlie Appleby, won the Group 3 German St. Leger at Dortmund a week last Sunday (15/09/19). Steeled in mid division by jockey James Doyle as the field turned for home, Ispolini made steady headway down the home straight, eventually passing long time leader Oriental Eagle under Scottish jockey Robert Havlin at the 300 metre mark. Despite several rivals throwing down challenges entering the closing, Ispolini held on to land the 55,000 Euro contest by a neck from the fast finishing Djukon, with Moonshiner repeating his third placed finish from last year. You can see the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LDDt8xDqoQ MORE BRITISH SUCCESS AS ASPETAR LANDS EUROPA The Roger Charlton-trained ASPETAR continued the excellent record of English runners in big German races this year when taking the 57th running of the Group 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne on Sunday. Winner of the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly in May, Aspetar, a four year old gelding bred by his owner HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, secured his second Group victory here, showing a fine turn of foot in the home straight to ease clear of his rivals under jockey Jason Watson for a 2½ lengths victory, with Amorella and Donjah, the only two fillies in the race coming home in second and third respectively. Winning jockey Watson, who was celebrating his first ever success in Germany, was pleased with how the race went ‘Aspetar has a lot of ability, but he’s not always showed it. I though the ground was a bit quick, but we had a lovely run round’, said Watson, who addedjockey that SONJA Aspetar DAROSZEWSKI, could be aimed who at more landed Group another 1 races victory throughout aboard thethe Christianworld. von der Recke-trained STORM OF SWORDS to win the big race on the first day of theYou Bad can Harzburg see Sunday’s Racing race Festival, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=the Preis der Hotel Achtermann Goslar-GVacb9VBMQ (Photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing). Advertise with ANGLO GERMAN RACING Contact [email protected] for further details. News Round-Up - Germany NOVICE APOLEON LANDS MANNHEIM CHASE The Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep trained APOLEON, having only his third ever start over obstacles, was an impressive winner of the Preis der Inter Versicherungsgruppe Jagdrennen steeplechase at Mannheim on Sunday. Having won both his previous jumps races by wide margins, Apoleon was facing a big step up in class here, but benefitted from a fine ride from Belgian jockey Diego Declercq, who was a late replacement for the injured Rostislav Bens. Having spent most of the race settled just behind stablemate Wutzelmann, who Declercq rode to victory in this race last year, Apoleon surged into the lead in the last 100 metres to secure a one length victory from Wutzelmann, ridden this time around by French jockey Thomas Boyer. Serienlohn, sent off the 2.4-1 favourite on the strength of his victories in this year’s Swedish and German Grand National, was third on this occasion. There was drama in the race when recent Irish import St. Stephens Green, who was riderless having parted company with jockey Sonja Daroszewski earlier in the race, attempted to jump a tape that was being held across the course to stop riders taking the wrong course, in the process nearly colliding with a course marshal holding the tape. Despite the incident at first possibly appearing serious, happily no injuries were reported to either horse or marshal. You can see the race here: https://www.racebets.com/en/horse- racing/race/details/id/2985833/external/5 6177 Photo left: Having won last year’s Preis der Inter Versicherungsgruppe Jagdrennen steeplechase at Mannheim aboard the Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep trained Wutzelmann, Belgian jockey DIEGO DECLERCQ once again wore the colours of owner Volker Schleusner to victory in this year’s renewal of the race on Sunday, this time on stablemate APOLEON (Photo copyright Darren Thrussell / Anglo German Racing). News Round-Up - Germany DÜSSELDORF: BRITISH RAIDER IN GROUP 3 CONTEST The Hughie Morrison-trained BELLA RAGAZZA bid to continue the fine record of English runners in German Group races this year when the four year old filly contests the Group 3 Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf on Sunday. Winner of a 50,000 GBP handicap at Newmarket last October, Bella Ragazza was well beaten in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, but should be more at home in this class of field. Six of the remaining seven runners in the race are home trained, the exception being BRODERIE. Despite being trained in France by Henri-Alex Pantall, Broderie’s last three races have all been in Germany, the first of which saw the four year old filly land a Hannover Listed race in emphatic style. This was followed up with a third placed finish in a Group 3 contest at Dresden where Broderie was just under 2 lengths behind Waldpfad. With that horse having subsequently proved to be a top class sprinter after some excellent performances in England, the form looks rock sold, and Broderie is tipped to go close here. KRONPRINZ spent the winter running in Dubai, but hasn’t won in his last 12 races, and was last of nine at Düsseldorf last time out. EMERITA however comes here in fine form, having won a Listed fillies on soft ground at the same course last month. With thunderstorms a possibility in Düsseldorf this weekend, any rain would be welcome for the Hans-Jürgen Gröschel trained filly. SUN AT WORK and VIVA GLORIA have both put in some fine performances in Listed races this year but both take a step up in class here, whilst NINARIO was a fine fifth in last year’s German 2000 Guineas, but hasn’t won in four races in France and Germany this season, and was only third when odds on favourite in a conditions race at Vichy in July. However, NICA, trained by qualified vet Dr. Andreas Bolte, has been in excellent form this season. Having landed a Listed race at Dortmund in May (EMERITA back in fourth), Nica was upped to Group class, and handled the step up really well, finishing third in the Group 2 Meilen Trophy at Düsseldorf in July (BRODERIE just under 2 length s back in fifth) before running the race of her life when second in the Group 2 Oettingen Rennen at Baden-Baden, going down by a neck to the Godolphin inmate Vintager. With that horse being rated a hefty 110 in his native England and nothing of that class seemingly in this race (sole English raider Bella Ragazza is currently rated 97) , Nica, who will be ridden as she was in her last two races by jockey Rene Piechulek, looks to be the one to beat here. PREDICTION: NICA - BRODERIE - BELLA RAGAZZA - EMERITA News Round-Up - Europe BAY BEST IN SLOVAKIAN CHASE The Irish-bred mare MENY BAY, winner of the 2017 Italian Champion Hurdle, proved she was just as adept over the larger obstacles when winning Slovakia’s biggest steeplechase of the year, the Velka Starohajska, at Bratislava a week last Sunday (15/09/19). Ridden by her trainer Jaroslav Brecka, who also owns the horse under his Quirinus Farm operation, Meny Bay, sent off the 1.7-1 favourite for the 4500 metre contest, forged past long time leader, the Hungarian-trained Babilonia, after jumping the last. However, there was a nervous moment for Meny Bay and jockey Brecka as the riderless Paris Eiffel, who was running loose after falling when leading earlier on in the race, galloped the wrong way up the home straight as the runners neared the finish, Happily Paris Eiffel steered clear of his five rivals, leaving Meny Bay to come home six lengths clears of Babilonia, with French import Rubichop back in third.