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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 romped to an incredible 14 length victory in the , the 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 -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 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).

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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 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.

You can see the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOSARN7t-n8

Photo left: JAROSLAV BRECKA, who trained and rode the Irish-bred mare MENY BAY, winner of Slovakia’s biggest steeplechase of the year, the Velka Starohajska, at Bratislava on Sunday (Photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing).

SILVER TAKES GOLD IN AUSTRIAN DERBY

The Czech-trained SILVER SEAM prevailed in an exciting finish to the 151st running of the Austrian Derby at Ebreichsdorf near Vienna a week last Sunday (15/09/19).the only raceday in Austria this year.

Having finish a tailed off last of nine at Deauville on his debut for trainer Zdeno Koplik last month, Silver Seam bounced back to form in the 20,000 Euro contest, and despite having been passed by Slovakian raider Cody after having led for most of the 2200 metre contest, the French-bred Silver Seam battled back for a ½ length victory over Cody, with the German-trained favourite Number One Run in third.

You can see the race here: http://race.anigma.at/2019_09_15/2019_09_15_09_01.MP4

News Round-Up - Europe

NORWEGIAN RAIDER IN STOCKHOLM CUP STROLL

SQUARE DE LUYNES lived up to his billing as one of Scandinavia’s best horses at present when running away with the Group 3 Stockholm Cup at Bro Park on Sunday.

Trained in Norway by Niels Petersen, Square de Luynes went into Sunday’s race of the back of an eight length victory in the Group 3 Marit Sveeas Minnelopning at Ovrevoll last month. Ridden for the first time on Sunday by Scottish jockey Robert Havlin, Square de Luynes was once again sent into an early lead, and just as he has done on previous occasions, ran away from his opponents in the 1,700,000 SEK (approx. 159,580 EUR) contest.

Once jockey Havlin asked the four year old Manduro gelding to quicken in the home straight, Square de Luynes did so in devastating fashion, coming home seven lengths clear of locally-trained Freestyler, who himself was on a four timer going into Sunday’s race. Master Bloom, winner of last year’s Danish Derby as well as the Norwegian and Swedish St. Legers, was third on this occasion.

You can see the race here: http://www.swedishhorseracing.c om/replays/race/#/20190922- bropark/9/ . Photo above left: Scottish jockey ROBERT HAVLIN, who rode the Niels Petersen- trained SQUARE DE LUYNES to victory in the Group 3 Stockholm Cup at Bro Park on Sunday (Photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing).

News Round-Up - Europe

KAZAKHSTAN: EX GOSDEN COLT IN GROUP 1 GLORY

The American-bred MAKE MEMORIES, sold for 9,000 Guineas at the Tattersalls sales in February in 2017, repeated his success in last year’s President of Republic of Kazakhstan Stakes, when winning this year’s renewal of the Group 1 contest at Almaty on Sunday.

Despite being outstandingly bred, by top sire Street Cry out of American Grade 1 winner Winter Memories, Make Memories failed to make an impression on the British racing scene, finishing last of twelve, then eighth of eleven in two starts for top trainer John Gosden in 2016. However, since arriving in Kazakhstan, Make Memories has become arguably the best horse in training in the country, winning eight of his twelve starts going into Sunday’s race, five at Group 1 level including the Kazakhstan 2000 Guineas and Derby back in 2017.

Victory number nine came of Sunday courtesy of a wide margin win in the 16,000,000

KZT (approx 37,840 EUR) contest, after a tactically excellent ride from jockey Eldiyar Sulaymanov , who is also the horse’s trainer. With most of the field opting to race toward the inside of the course, Sulaymanov kept Make Memories out wide, and the gamble paid off with the pair coming home clear of the fast finishing Myrza Tory, who just grabbed second ahead of English import Obrigada, winner of a Lingfield handicap in January last year for Newmarket-based trainer Tom Clover but now with Kazakhstan trainer Petr Karabelnikov.

You can see the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d81IX4jmVR0

DERBY WINNERS IN WIELKA WARSZAWSKA BATTLE

Two of Poland’s best flat horses currently in training go head to head on Sunday when FABULOUS LAS VEGAS, winner of last year’s Polish Triple Crown, and the Irish bred filly NEMEZIS, winner of both the Polish Derby and Oaks this year, do battle in the Group 1 Wielka Warszawska at the Sluzewiec course in Warsaw.

Having been ridden to her Derby and Oaks victories by British-based Irish jockey Fergus Sweeney, Nemezis will on Sunday be the mount of his countryman Kieran O’Neill as the Irish bred filly carries only 53 kilos in the 220,500 PLN (approx 50,270 EUR) contest. However, Sweeney still has a ride in the race as he partners OPHELIA’S AIDAN, second to Nemezis in this year’s Polish Derby.

Other runners to note in the race are PRIDE OF NELSON, who won the Polish 1000 Guineas before being placed in both the Oaks and Derby, and the interesting

COSMIC CITY, who has his first run at the age of seven for Czech trainer Vaclav Luka after having spent his career his France, where he has won 17 races over the last five years.

News Round-Up - Europe

MAGICHE CAN BE MAGIC IN GRAN PREMIO

Fourteen runners line up for one of mainland Europe’s biggest steeplechases for the second year when the 80th running of the Group 1 Gran Premio Merano Alto Adige takes place at Merano in the Italian Alps on Sunday.

The six strong French challenge for the 250,000 Euro contest is headed by last year‘s winner LE COSTAUD. Seventh in the Group 1 Grand Steeplechase de Paris in May, the Guillaume Macaire-trained eight year old was a comfortable winner of an Auteuil hurdle race last time out, and once again hold a major chance here.

French-based trainer Louisa Carberry bids to become the first English-born trainer to win the race, and she saddles DOURDOUR here. The eight year old gelding Switzerland’s biggest jumps race, the Grosser Preis der Schweiz, at Aarau three weeks ago, however both Dourdour and AMOUR DU PUY NOIR have it all to do on official French rankings. However, the Francois Nicolle-trained VIKING DE BALME, rated only two kilos behind Le Costaud, has place claims having landed a Listed chase at Clairefontaine by six lengths

However, Czech-trained runners have won four of the last six runnings of the Gran Premio, and hopes are high of another victory here, especially as the Stanislav Popelka- trained AL BUSTAN, the mount on Sunday at English jockey Andrew Glassonbury, has finished first and second in the last two runnings of this race, and the Irish-bred nine year old should be there or thereabouts again this time around.

English import BUGSIE MALONE won four races last year for trainer Chris Gordon, but was only fifth at Merano last time out in a Listed chase won by L’ESTRAN, one of three runners in Sunday’s race for trainer Josef Vana jr. Lightly raced over the last couple of years, L’Estran, who overcame an absence of 14 months when winning a Dieppe chase prior to his Merano success, could go well again here.

However, Vana jr also saddles NOTTI MAGICHE, arguably the form horse in Italian steeplechasing this year. Having started 2019 winning a couple of small chases at Pisa and the Listed Steeplechase di Treviso, Notti Magiche stepped up to top class in excellent style winning the Grande Steeplechase di Milano at Milan and the European Grand National, the Grande Steeplechase d’Europa at Merano. With both those races carrying Group 1 status, there is little doubt that Notti Magiche comes here in excellent form, and having warmed up for this race last month when third in a hurdle race over an inadequate 3300 metres, Notti Magiche, the mount on Sunday of top Czech jockey Jan Faltejsek, looks the one to beat here.

PREDICTION: NOTTI MAGICHE - LE COSTAUD - ThankAL BUSTAN you - VIKING for DE BALMEreading - L’ESTRAN this

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