By Sean Cronin
With the late scratching of France's leading contender Juwelier (Wootton Bassett), the path was left clear for domestic hope Hochkonig (Polish Vulcano) and British raider Convergent (Fascinating Rock) to battle out a thrilling finish to Sunday's G1 IDEE 156th Deutsches Derby at Hamburg.
The delayed photo verdict heightened the drama and the crowd erupted once Hochkonig was confirmed the short-head winner, with Nina Baltromei becoming the contest's first female rider to celebrate glory.
Baltromei employed patient tactics from the outset and settled Hochkonig off the pace in rear for most of the 12-furlong test. Making smooth headway into contention in the straight as the pacesetting Delgardo (Best Solution) wilted up front, the 183-10 chance was stoked up with 300 metres remaining and stayed on relentlessly to shade the Karl Burke-trained G3 Chester Vase third on the line after a ding-dong tussle. Stall Lucky Owner's G2 Gran Criterium victor Lazio (Make Believe) fared best of the rest and ran on strongly to finish two lengths adrift in third.
It was a second Classic of the year for Yasmin Almenrader, who also saddled runaway G2 German 2000 Guineas heroine Matilda (Soldier Hollow), and the trainer was emotional in the aftermath of a first success in Germany's premium event. “I am absolutely speechless,” she said. “I am somewhat overawed, by Hochkonig and by Nina, who rode such an intelligent race. Hochkonig is a real racehorse and he takes everything in his stride, but it does take a lot to win such a race. Many thanks also to the breeders Marc and Gabi [Ruehl].”
Owner Stall Cloverleaf has just two horses in training and, continuing the underdog theme, Hochkonig was bred by photographer Marc Ruehl along with his wife Gabi. They keep their horses at home, based near Bergheim, not far from the illustrious Gestut Schlenderhan. Hochkonig's sire Polish Vulcano is a son of Lomitas, who is also the sire of top South African sire influence Silvano. Former amateur Nina Baltromei becomes the second apprentice to win the contest, emulating Otto Schmidt aboard Amorino in 1916, and this was her 50th career victory. The race was out of bounds for female jockeys until 1979.
“I have not yet comprehended that I actually won,” beamed Baltromei after receiving a boisterous reception from the packed enclosures. “This is absolutely awesome and especially so having received so much support from everyone.”
Hochkonig ran third over insufficient trips in his first two starts before providing a glimpse of his Classic potential when a one-length runner-up to Delgardo upped to 12 furlongs contesting a hot Cologne maiden in April. Romping to a seven-length tally going 11 furlongs back at the Weidenpescher venue next time, he tuned up for this date with destiny by running second to the reopposing Zuckerhut (Almanzor) over that same strip in last month's G2 Union-Rennen.
Tim Donworth trainee The Sheriff (Almanzor) was pulled up turning for home and, in doing so, hampered a number of rivals. Unfortunately, he was later found to have suffered a fractured pastern.
What a race in the German Derby! 🤯
HOCHKÖNIG denies CONVERGENT thanks to a super ride from Nina Baltromei in the G1 Deutsches Derby. #WorldPool | @wettstar_de pic.twitter.com/daSgqzj0Uj
— World Pool (@WorldPool) July 6, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Hochkonig becomes the first Group 1 and Classic winner for his sire, who now has two Group winners from very few chances, the other being G3 St Leger Italiano victor Sir Vulcano. He is the latest of three live foals and one of two winners produced by a multiple-winning granddaughter of Listed Silver Flash Stakes third Honest Impulse (Persian Bold), herself the dam of Listed Jungheinrich Gabelstapler victor Honorius (Kings Lake). Honest Impulse is the leading performer out of Cala Blava (Moulton), who is a half-sister to G1 Irish Oaks heroine Give Thanks (Relko), and hails from the immediate family of G1 Derby hero Teenoso (Youth) and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine and prolific broodmare Favoletta (Baldric).
Sunday, Hamburg, Germany
IDEE 156TH DEUTSCHES DERBY-G1, €650,000, Hamburg, 7-6, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:37.10, gd.
1–HOCHKONIG (GER), 128, c, 3, by Polish Vulcano (Ger)
1st Dam: Halinara (Ger), by Kallisto (Ger)
2nd Dam: Habina (Ger), by The Minstrel
3rd Dam: Honest Impulse (GB), by Persian Bold (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Stall Cloverleaf; B-Stall MarcRuehl.com; T-Yasmin Almenrader; J-Nina Baltromei. €390,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-2, €416,875. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Convergent (Ire), 128, c, 3, Fascinating Rock (Ire)–Monty's Miracle (Ire), by Shamardal. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm; T-Karl Burke. €130,000.
3–Lazio (GB), 128, c, 3, Make Believe (GB)–La Caldera (GB), by Hernando (Fr). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€30,000 Ylg '23 BBAGS). O-Stall Lucky Owner; B-Roland Lerner; T-Waldemar Hickst. €72,000.
Margins: SHD, 2, NK. Odds: 18.30, 3.30, 18.60.
Also Ran: *Path Of Soldier (Ger), *Enzian (Ger), Zuckerhut (Ger), Name Lord (Ger), Waldnebel (Ger), Lady Charlotte (GB), Zauberkonig (Ger), Delgardo (Ger), Abando (Ger), Amico (Ger), Sedano (Fr), Pompeo Dream (Fr), Dux (Ger). DNF: The Sheriff (Fr). Scratched: Juwelier (Ire).
*Dead-heated for 4th.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
