By Tom Frary
A year after his half-brother Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) captured a third G1 Deutsches Derby for Gestut Rottgen and first since Uomo (Ger) in 1959, Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) provided a fairytale follow-up after a tussle with fellow Markus Klug trainee Destino (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Last seen winning this Classic's premier trial, the G2 Oppenheim Union Rennen at Cologne June 17, the bay was settled sixth on the rail early by Adrie de Vries. Brought towards the stand's side to tackle his stablemate, the 11-5 second favourite gained a slight edge 150 metres from home and asserted to prevail by a neck, with the 19-10 favourite Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}) 1 1/2 lengths away in third.
Trainer Markus Klug said, “I am of course overjoyed, but I also feel sorry for Baron von Finck [owner-breeder of Destino] and jockey Martin Seidl to be beaten so narrowly. These are two really good horses and if they remain sound, they are sure to win more races.”
Adrie de Vries, who was celebrating a personal breakthrough, ,added, “The Derby was the one race I was still missing and I really wanted to win it some time. I was really wary of Destino, as he is just improving all the time and just coming along nicely. He got ahead of Weltstar, but my mount fought back like a true stayer, a great horse.”
Successful by 5 1/2 lengths on debut at Bremen in October, the rest of Weltstar's campaign leading to the Oppenheim Union Rennen was a tale of mixed fortunes, with well-beaten fourth placings in the G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen at Krefeld in November and in Cologne's G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen May 21 either side of a return second in the G3 Dr Busch Memorial also at Krefeld Apr. 22. Showing that middle distances were what he had needed all along when outstaying Destino by 3/4 of a length in the 11-furlong main Cologne trial, the homebred saw out this mile and a half emphatically to provide his trainer Markus Klug with a third renewal since 2014.
Weltstar is the second foal out of Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}), whose first was the aforementioned Windstoss. In achieving this remarkable feat, she becomes only the sixth broodmare in German history to produce two Derby winners and only the second to do so in consecutive years after Laurea (Ire) (Sharpman {Ire}) as the dam of Lando (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) in 1993 and Laroche (Ger) (Nebos {Ger}) in 1994. The second dam is the Listed Preis der Winterkonigin winner Well Known (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}), who was also runner-up in both the German fillies' Classics and who has five black-type performers to her credit headed by the G1 Preis von Europa hero Well Made (Ger) (Mondrian {Ger}). Her dam Well Proved (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}) landed the G3 German 1000 Guineas before throwing the G3 Prix de Psyche scorer Welluna (Ger) (Lagunas}), who in turn produced the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin scorer Well Spoken (Ger) to a mating with Weltstar's sire Soldier Hollow. Wellenspiel's as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Reliable Man (GB) is named Walerian (GB), while she also has a yearling colt by Kamsin (Ger) named Worrick (Ger) and a filly foal by Protectionist (Ger).
Sunday, Hamburg, Germany
IDEE 149TH DEUTSCHES DERBY-G1, €650,000, Hamburg, 7-8, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:32.44, gd.
1–WELTSTAR (GER), 128, c, 3, by Soldier Hollow (GB)
1st Dam: Wellenspiel (Ger), by Sternkonig (Ire)
2nd Dam: Well Known (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger)
3rd Dam: Well Proved (Ger), by Prince Ippi (Ger)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€40,000 Ylg '16 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug; J-Adrie de Vries. €390,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, €455,000. *1/2 to Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 11-14f, MG1SW-Ger & G1SP-Eng, $688,724. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Destino (Ger), 128, c, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Divya (Ger), by Platini (Ger). O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €130,000.
3–Royal Youmzain (Fr), 128, c, 3, Youmzain (Ire)–Spasha (GB), by Shamardal. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (FR); T-Andreas Wohler. €78,000.
Margins: NK, 1HF, 1. Odds: 2.20, 6.50, 1.90.
Also Ran: Salve Del Rio (Ire), Aldenham (Ger), Sweet Man (GB), Jimmu (Ger), Emerald Master (Ger), Guiri (Ger), Star Max (Ger), Zargun (Ger), Ecco (GB), Capone (Ger). Scratched: Chimney Rock (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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