Alpinista (GB)

It's been a season like no other for Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud operation and, fresh on the heels of Zaaki (GB)'s cakewalk in Saturday's G1 Underwood S., the Sir Mark Prescott-conditioned 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) made it a quickfire elite-level double for the nursery, sporting her owner-breeder's colours, in Sunday's G1 59th Preis von Europa at Cologne. The February-foaled grey, second in last term's G1 Yorkshire Oaks, was unbeaten in three prior black-type starts this term and lined up as the 11-10 favourite for this latest outing returning...

With ParisLongchamp's Arc weekend bonanza looming large on the horizon, European stakes activities gear down a notch for Sunday. However, the day doesn't lack for class and headlining the action is Cologne's €125,000 G1 59th Preis von Europa over 12 furlongs. Kirsten Rausing's homebred 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the lone international raider, is undefeated in three outings for Sir Mark Prescott this season and returns to Germany after annexing Hoppegarten's Aug. 8 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in her latest start. The reopposing Nerium (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), last...

Coping with easy ground well enough to record a workmanlike success in the G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last time July 3, Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) relished the slicker surface available at a sun-baked Hoppegarten to continue her owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing's annus mirabilis by garnering Sunday's G1 Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin. Settled fourth early by Luke Morris as Godolphin's G2 Dubai City of Gold scorer Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) cut out the running, the 19-5 shot was launched in early straight to swamp her neighbour passing...

Deauville stages the G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday, where David Ward's G1 July Cup hero Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) has to tackle testing ground as he bids to put his marker down on the sprinting division. Beaten only once when encountering soft going in Ascot's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S., the 4-year-old nevertheless carries significant stable confidence into the 6 1/2-furlong highlight. "He's in cracking form and we're super excited, so fingers crossed," trainer Ed Walker said. "Everything has gone very well since the July...

Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), whose granddam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) won the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in 2004, is under consideration for the same race at Hoppegarten on Aug. 8. Another potential target for the July 3 G2 Lancashire Oaks heroine is the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. at Glorious Goodwood on July 31. The Kirsten Rausing silksbearer also captured the Apr. 30 Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies' S. "She's fine," said trainer Sir Mark Prescott. "She'll either go for the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood or she might go to Germany...

Tactical nuance will be the order of the day in Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse, with Sandown's prestige affair hosting a trio of male thoroughbreds who have been tested and proven internationally and just one other very much on the fringe. With the big three of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) responsible for nine top-level victories between them in this country, France, Dubai and Australia, this renewal really does offer something different. All of them have a largely consistent profile with...

Dual Classic heroine Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of six fillies and mares holding their ground for the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks over the Knavesmire on Aug. 20. The Aidan O'Brien trainee dominated the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas by 4 1/4 lengths in June, and extended her winning margin to nine lengths over 1 ½ miles in the G1 Investec Oaks on July 4. The Coolmore representative faces two from the John Gosden yard, with Juddmonte's MSW Franconia (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Anthony Oppenheimer's Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}),...