Almanzor's Zuckerhut Triumphs in Cologne's G2 Union-Rennen

Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee's Zuckerhut (Almanzor) was too good for his rivals in a strong renewal of Monday's G2 Sparkasse KolnBonn 190th Union-Rennen at Cologne and the G3 Bavarian Classic fourth punched his ticket to July's G1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg with a one-length triumph in Germany's premier trial for the main event.

The 5-2 favourite, who had previously snagged his Apr. 6 debut at Mulheim, employed patient tactics and was positioned off the pace in sixth for most of this 11-furlong contest. Rowed along to reduce arrears at the top of the straight, he quickened smartly to launch his challenge approaching the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out inside the final 300 metres to defeat Hochkonig (Polish Vulcano) in decisive fashion for a first black-type success of any kind.

“I have liked him since the very first time I saw him and his final piece of work was really good,” commented rider Andrasch Starke. “I was able to keep him under wraps and that worked out well, especially as there was a good pace. We are now ready for [the G1 Deutsches Derby at] Hamburg.” Trainer Peter Schiergen, who was winning this event for the sixth time, one shy of George Arnull's record seven editions, added, “He had an excellent trip throughout and 2,400 metres will be even better for him. He will have improved again for this race and now the Derby can come.”

Sparkasse KölnBonn – 190. Union-Rennen (GR2) over 2200m at Cologne🏆

3yo – Group Race – 70.000€

🥇ZUCKERHUT by ALMANZOR
🥈HOCHKÖNIG by POLISH VULCANO
🥉ABANDO by ADLERFLUG

ZUCKERHUT is bred by Gestüt Hachtsee, owned by Rennstall Gestüt Hachtsee, trained by Peter Schiergen and… pic.twitter.com/3yzqm1FPZF

— Deutscher Galopp (@DeutscherGalopp) June 9, 2025

Pedigree Notes
Zuckerhut, who becomes the 14th pattern-race winner for his sire, is the first of three foals produced by Group 2-winning G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) runner-up Zamrud (Samum), herself a full-sister to Listed Dusseldorf Derby-Trial runner-up Zirconic Star. Descendants of Zuckerhut's G1 Prix du Cadran-winning third dam Mercalle (Kaldoun) include G1 Japan Cup second Fabulous La Fouine (Fabulous Dancer). The April-foaled homebred bay is a half-brother to the unraced 2-year-old colt Zarif (Zarak) and a yearling colt by Tai Chi named Zinnsoldat.

Monday, Cologne, Germany
SPARKASSE KOLNBONN – 190TH UNION-RENNEN-G2, €70,000, Cologne, 6-9, 3yo, 11fT, 2:17.28, sf.
1–ZUCKERHUT (GER), 128, c, 3, by Almanzor (Fr)
1st Dam: Zamrud (Ger) (GSW & G1SP-Ger, $174,876), by Samum (Ger)
2nd Dam: Zambuka (Fr), by Zieten
3rd Dam: Mercalle (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee; B-Gestut Hachtsee; T-Peter Schiergen; J-Andrasch Starke. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €49,000. Werk Nick Rating: First SW from this cross. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hochkonig (Ger), 128, c, 3, Polish Vulcano (Ger)–Halinara (Ger), by Kallisto (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Stall Cloverleaf; B-Stall MarcRuehl.com (GER); T-Yasmin Almenrader. €15,500.
3–Abando (Ger), 128, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Amalie (Ger), by Areion (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (62,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Gorlsdorf; T-Waldemar Hickst. €8,000.
Margins: 1, 3 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.50, 3.30, 19.20.
Also Ran: Sedano (Fr), Amico (Ger), Enzian (Ger), Rekabet (Ger).