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Issue 123 – 6th September 2019

Hello, and welcome to the latest Anglo German Racing Newsletter of 2019! In this edition, we look back at the big race at the ‘Grosse Woche’ festival at Baden- Baden , Sunday’s Group 1 Longines . We also review the last Seejagdrennen lake steeplechase of the season in , which took place at Quakenbrück on Sunday.

Further afield, we review a dramatic steeplechase in Russia and the Slovakian Oaks, whilst we preview big steeplechases in Poland and the Czech Republic.

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

Horses take the ‘Grandstand

Jump’ during the 2016 Wielka Wroclawska, widely regarded as the biggest jumps race in Poland, This year’s renewal of the steeplechase takes place at Wroclaw, and there in a preview on page 6 of this newsletter (Photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing).

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Imprint Email address [email protected] Anglo German Racing [email protected] Chief Editor: Darren Thrussell Published weekly

News Round-Up - Germany

‘MONSTER’ IN GROSSER PREIS PROCESSION

The Charlie Appleby-trained GHAIYYATH gave the Sheikh Mohammed-led operation their second successive victory in the Group 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden after Best Solution’s success last year when putting in a quite breathtaking performance to win this year’s renewal of the race at Baden-Baden on Sunday.

Regarded as the most prestigious race in Germany, the 2019 Grosser Preis von Baden attracted a high class field of nine runners, however, as racecourse commentator Marvin Schridde remarked in the closing stages, it was a ‘one horse show’ as Ghaiyyah flew clear of his opposition under jockey William Buick for a phenomenal fourteen lengths victory ahead of the three year old filly Donjah, with Laccarion, winner of this year’s German Derby, back in third.

After the race, jockey Buick was full of praise for the winner. ‘He’s an amazing horse, he showed in the trial for the Prix Ganay just what he can do. We don’t really know what went wrong in the Prix Ganay itself (finished third), but he’s a monster. An absolute monster’.

When asked about future plans for the horse including a possible tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp next month, trainer Appleby commented ‘This race is a good prep for the Arc, but I’ll speak to Sheikh Mohammed and see where we go from here. I’m delighted though that Ghaiyyath showed today just what he can do'.

Bookmakers Racebets reacted by making Ghaiyyath a 6-1 chance for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where superstar filly is

expected to have her last ever race. jockey SONJA DAROSZEWSKI, who landedYou another can see victory the aboardGrosser the Preis Christian von Baden von der Recke-trained STORM OF SWORDShere: to win the big race on the first day of the Bad Harzburg Racing Festival, the Preishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2QhKW der Hotel Achtermann Goslar (Photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German5qwTs Racing).

Photo left: Jockey WILLIAM BUICK, who rode the Charlie Appleby-trained GHAIYYATH, owned by the Sheikh Mohammed-led Godolphin operation, to a phenomenal fourteen lengths victory in the Group 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden on Sunday (Photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing).

News Round-Up - Germany

WUTZELMANN TAKES QUAKENBRÜCK SEEJAGDRENNEN

The Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep trained WUTZELMANN repeated his victory from last year in the final Seejagdrennen lake steeplechase of the season in Germany when winning the Preis der Firma JCK Holding Seejagdrennen at Quakenbrück on Sunday.

Having won one of the two Seejagdrennen races at the Bad Harzburg racing festival last time out, Wutzelmann, ridden as he was at Bad Harzburg by Czech jockey Pavel Slozil jr, led from start to finish in the 12,500 Euro contest, crossing the line 4 ½ lengths clear of Leierspielerin, with Turfrubin, trained like Leierspielerin by Pavel Vovcenko, 22 lengths back in third.

The race capped a double for trainer Schleusner-Fruhriep and jockey Slozil, who had earlier won the other jumps race on the card, the Preis der Firmen Lager-Huslage/Dein Energiebüro/Mitschke steeplechase with APOLEON, who despite making his chasing debut, carried a quite asotising 83 kilos to victory, which is believed may well be a 21st century record for a professional riders steeplechase.

You can see both races here: Preis der Firma JCK Holding Seejagdrennen - Winner WUTZELMANN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLgN- fTREyg

Preis der Firmen Lager-Huslage / Dein Energiebüro / Mitschke steeplechase - Winner APOLEON: https://www.racebets.com/en/horse-

racing/race/details/id/2966993/external/65572

Photo left: The Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep- trained WUTZELMANN and Czech jockey PAVEL SLOZIL jr, winners of the Preis der Firma JCK Holding Seejagdrennen at Quakenbrück on Sunday (Photo copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing).

Anglo German Racing’s very own photographer Stefanie Ihlenburg was at Quakenbrück on Sunday, and a selection

of her photos can be seen on the next page. To enquire about buying photos or if you have any other queries, please e-mail

us at [email protected]

QUAKENBRÜCK RACECOURSE - 1ST SEPTEMBER 2019 (All photos copyright Stefanie Ihlenburg / Anglo German Racing)

News Round-Up - Europe

KRASNODAR: ARZIMOVICH TAKES EVENTFUL STEEPLECHASE

ONE of the most eagerly anticipated head to heads in Russian racing was decided in dramatic circumstances when ARZIMOVICH took advantage of a fall from clear leader AYZER to win the Sagar Steeplechase at Krasnodar on Saturday.

Having unseated his jockey in a hurdle race last year on his jumps debut, Ayzer, who like Arzimovich was defending an unbeaten record over fences, displayed a much more sure footed round of jumping this time around, and appeared to be cruising in front under jockey Alexander Simonov, having seized the lead from Arzimovich at the first of two banks over the 4200 metre course.

With Arzimovich struggling to negotiate the second bank three from home, Ayzer and jockey Simonov powered clear, and built up a lead of about 20 lengths approaching the second last obstacle. However, Ayzer’s hitherto excellent round of jumping seemed to desert him as he appeared to catch the top of the fence, sending both horse and jockey sprawling into the turf. Happily, both Ayzer and jockey Simonov were fine, and in true Russian jockey style, Simonov remounted Ayzer. However, by this time, Arzimovich had sprinted past under jockey Anton Orchinsky, and the pair came home unchallenged from Ayzer, with the only other runner in the race, Sbrak, well back in third.

Krasnodar Racecourse have produced a video of all nine races on Saturday’s card which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rLoblSUBKo (The steeplechase was the last contest on the card, and the build up and race can be seen approximately 35:00 into the video).

FALCON FLIES TO SLOVAKIAN OAKS SUCCESS

FALCON BABY followed up her success in July’s Czech Oaks, with victory in the

Slovakian equivalent of the fillies classic at Bratislava on Sunday.

Ridden for the first time by Polish jockey Piotr Krowicki, the Irish-bred Falcon Baby hit the front as the field turned for the home in the race, which at 2000 metres, is 400 metres shorter that its Czech equivalent. However, the shorter distance made no difference to the Helena Vocaskova-trained Falcon Baby, as she crossed the line 3 ½ lengths clear of nearest challenger Lady Roseburg, with Irish import Nikeandnemesis completing a 1-2-3 for Czech-based trainers.

You can see the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU_AaeSZPH4

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News Round-Up - Europe

CRYSTAL CUP HERO TIPPED FOR MORE STEEPLECHASE GLORY

This year’s renewal of the Wielka Wroclawska Nagroda Portu Lotniczego Wrocław, widely regarded as the biggest jumps race in Poland, takes place at the Partynice course at Wroclaw on Sunday. Seven runners line up for the 175,000 PLN (approx 40,330 EUR) contest over 5000 metres, five of which are trained in the Czech Republic, including DELIGHT MY FIRE, winner of this race in both 2015 and 2017, and runner up in 2016. Having had a largely disappointing 2018, Delight my Fire has shown signs of returning to her old form with two second placed finishes this year, but needs to bounce back from a below par showing at Pardubice last time out, in a race where SZTORM, who re-opposes here, was second. Trained in the Czech Republic by Polish-born Greg Wroblewski, Sztorm also won this race last year, and was unbeaten in all three of his races last year, all of which took place at Wroclaw, including the Polish leg of the Crystal Cup cross country series. A confirmed course specialist with a touch of class, Sztorm has a if chance here.

Like Sztorm, PARETO has fine course form, and has been placed in this race four times. Although his best days may be behind him at twelve, this consistent chaser, who has form figures at Wroclaw of 14332223, looks set to be placed again on Sunday.

LARIZANO would have a big shout on his best form, but this eleven year old has only run three times in the last 2½ years, and was last of six finishers at Lysa nad Laben last time out, whilst the Czech challenge in completed by REKI, who looked destined for the top having won the Crystal Cup race at Wroclaw in 2017, but hasn’t quite hit those heights since.

The two Polish-trained runners filled the first two places in the main trial for this race last month. NICK, second on that occasion, was having only his second run for new connections, having previously done all his racing in the Czech Republic. However, the eight year old is unproven over Sunday’s 5000 metre race distance.

HAAD RIN, who won the trial race, came to prominence last year, winning twice at Wroclaw and finishing third in a Group 3 hurdle at Merano. However, Haad Rin arguably saved his best performance for his final race of last year in November, an 85,000 Euro Listed steeplechase at Compiegne, where despite being up again some of ’s top juvenile steeplechasers, Haad Rin only lost in a photo finish against the Francois Nicolle-trained subsequent Group 3 winner Equemauville. With the third, fifth and sixth from that race having won since, the form looks rock solid. However after being beaten not too far when fifth on his seasonal debut at Auteuil in May, Haad Rin then went on to record two wide margin victories at Wroclaw, in the Crystal Cup and Wroclawska Trial respectively, and the Robert Swiatek-trained five year old looks to be the one to beat here, especially as he will be ridden as he has been in his last seven races by top Swedish jockey Niklas Loven.

PREDICTION: HAAD RIN - SZTORM - PARETO - DELIGHT MY FIRE

News Round-Up - Europe

VELKA HERO BERLAIS RETURNS IN QUALIFIER

The Pavel Tuma-trained TSIGANE DU BERLAIS makes only his second racecourse appearance since being victorious in last year’s Velka Pardubicka when he lines up in the last of four qualifiers for this year’s renewal of the world famous steeplechase on Saturday.

Second in the first of four Velka Pardubicka qualifying races back in May, Tsigane de Berlais races for the first time since that contest. However, the eight year old, who will as usual be partnered by top jockey Jan Faltejsek, looks the one to beat here.

The legendary Josef Vana sr runs MAZHILIS, winner of the Group 1 Gran Premio Merano back in 2016 but who has be running in much lower grade races recently, whilst KROCOLEON and DULCAR DE SIVOLA look to have it all to do on the form book. RIBELNO, the mount on Saturday of English jockey Andrew Glassonbury, won the 2015 Velka Pardubicka on a disqualification, but had failed to finish in nearly half of his races since then, and this eleven year old’s best days look to be behind him.

The remaining four runners in Saturday’s race currently do not hold an entry in the Velka Pardubicka itself. However, whilst VALTZ would need to improve to figure here, the other three horses without entries for the big race could all go well here. TALENT lived up to his name when winning a Group 3 chase at Merano two years ago, and beat some big names, including 2017 Velka Pardubicka winner No Time to Lose, at Pardubice in May later. However, the Hana Kabelkova-trained eight year old hasn’t raced since that day, and despite Talent clearly having talent, he has a 16 month absence to overcome.

Besides Mazhilis, Josef Vana sr also saddles the nine year old THEOPHILOS. Pulled up on his seasonal debut back in May, Theophilos was a very impressive winner last time out, and this French import, who was a late non runner for last year’s Velka Pardubicka when considered a dark horse by many, could go well again here.

The line up is completed by AMADEON, who has won five of his last seven races, and comes here bang in form, having won his last two starts, both at Pardubice. Despite going up in both class and distance here, the seven year old Amadeon, whose trainer Helena Vocaskova currently leads the Czech trainers championship with an outstanding 35% success rate, could prove the biggest danger to Tsigane de Berlais here.

PREDICTION: TSIGANE DU BERLAIS - AMADEON - THEOPHILOS - TALENT - MAZHILIS

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