By Tom Frary
Quietly progressive, Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) took another incremental step forward at Cologne on Sunday when winning the G2 Oppenheim Union Rennen. In doing so, the homebred will give the Gestut Rottgen-Markus Klug axis a chance to emulate last year's G1 Deutsches Derby-winning half-brother Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the July 8 Hamburg Classic. Runner-up in the G3 Dr Busch Memorial over 8 1/2 furlongs at Krefeld Apr. 22 and fourth in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen, or German 2000 Guineas, at this venue May 21, the bay was moving markedly up in trip here but was confidently backed into 5-2 favouritism with all the pedigree pointers suggesting it was what he needed. Settled in rear early by a confident Adrie de Vries, he crept into contention exiting the back straight and came wide to towards the stand's side where Destino (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) had given the slip. In the end, it was his stamina which won the day as his momentum took him past that game stablemate 100 metres from the line en route to a 3/4-of-a-length success.
Windstoss, who has subsequently won the G1 Preis von Europa and finished third to Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Coronation Cup, was providing Rottgen with a first Deutsches Derby victory in 2017 and it would be some tale if Weltstar can follow up 12 months on after winning this premier trial. Remarkably, he is only the second foal out of Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkonig {Ire}) after Windstoss, with his family also containing Well Known (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}) who was runner-up in both the G2 German 1000 Guineas and G1 Preis der Diana. Her five black-type performers are headed by the G1 Preis von Europa hero Well Made (Ger) (Mondrian {Ger}), while this dynasty also features the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Well Spoken (Ger), also by Soldier Hollow. Wellenspiel has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Reliable Man (GB) named Walerian (GB), a yearling colt by Kamsin (Ger) named Worrick (Ger) and a filly foal by Protectionist (Ger).
Sunday, Cologne, Germany
183RD OPPENHEIM-UNION-RENNEN-G2, €70,000, Cologne, 6-17, 3yo, 11fT, 2:19.42, 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 BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€40,000 Ylg '16
BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug; J-Adrie de
Vries. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, €65,000. *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. €15,500.
3–Salve Del Rio (Ire), 128, c, 3, Rio de la Plata–Salve Aurora
(Ger), by King's Best. O/B-Gestut Hony-Hof (IRE); T-Jean-Pierre
Carvalho. €8,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 3/4, 2. Odds: 2.50, 28.50, 6.80.
Also Ran: Jimmu (Ger), Valajani (Ger), Ecco (GB), Aldenham (Ger), Klungel (Ger), Sweet Man (GB), Emerald Master (Ger), Ballydoyle (Ger), Magic Pivotal (Fr). DNF: Puccini (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result.
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