Dusseldorf

Sunday's G1 165th Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks) at Dusseldorf went the way of Stall Golden Goal's G3 Hamburg Stuten-Meile scorer Muskoka (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Morning Mist {Ger}, by Peintre Celebre) as she mastered Kassada (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the 11-furlong Classic staged in heavy rain. Stepping up in trip having won at a mile, the Henk Grewe trainee was reserved early in mid division by Lukas Delozier with stamina unproven. Reeling in Kassada in the last 100 metres, the 5-1 shot asserted to score by a...

Showing the overseas raiders a clean pair of heels on Sunday, Gestut Fahrhof's TDN Rising Star Habana (Ger) (Kingman {GB}--Hargeisa, by Speightstown) made all to conquer the G2 Wempe 103rd German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf. Disappointing on her course-and-distance prep when last of four in the Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis last month, the G3 Zukunfts-Rennen winner who had been down the field in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac dominated here under an inspired ride from Eduardo Pedroza. Sent clear of Godolphin's 6-4 favourite Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal) in the straight, the...

Gestut Rottgen's homebred 2-year-old colt Aspirant (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}--Aussicht {Ger}, by Haafhd {GB}), who holds an engagement in Krefeld's Nov. 13 G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen, went postward as the 16-5 second choice for Sunday's one-mile Preis der Holschbach Immobilien Gruppe at Dusseldorf and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' after disposing of his rivals in impressive fashion. Aspirant was professional from the gate and broke well to gain a narrow advantage going into the first turn. Comfortable on the lead throughout this debut, he was nudged along at the...

There was an upset in Sunday's G1 Henkel Preis der Diana at Dusseldorf as Kerrin McEvoy steered the 16-1 shot Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}) to an all-the-way win for Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett's Australian Bloodstock Stable. Successful in the Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis over a mile here May 14, the chestnut had joined Andreas Wohler from the Marian Falk Weissmeier stable following her latest third in the 10-furlong G3 Diana Trial at Hoppegarten June 5. Always comfortable setting the fractions on the front end at this sharp turning circuit, she...

Ecurie Griezmann's battle-hardened 3-year-old filly Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}--Power of the Moon {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) had made seven consecutive starts in stakes company leading into Sunday's G2 Wempe 102nd German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf and emerged with a career high to add to a victory in last term's Listed Winterkonigin Trial at Cologne. The €310,000 Arqana September yearling went postward for this second start in Germany coming back off a fifth in Deauville's Apr. 7 G3 Prix Imprudence and a runner-up finish in ParisLongchamp's May 1 Listed Prix du...

All eyes are already on Royal Ascot, but before that catalogue of high-class encounters unfolds there is Classic action on Sunday with Dusseldorf hosting the G2 Wempe 102nd German 1000 Guineas. Tried in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen, or German 2000 Guineas, Gestut Karlshof's Apr. 24 G3 Dr Busch-Memorial winner Mylady (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) was disappointing when only eighth in that May 22 Cologne feature and is back among her own sex with a point to prove. That will not be easy against the British raiders Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire})...

It has been mooted more than one this spring, but without labouring a point it seems clear after the declarations for the racing at ParisLongchamp on Sunday that Messrs Fabre and Peslier are linked again, at least for the time being. France's dynamic duo combine with two major chances in the group races on the fixture, with Lady Bamford's Dreamflight (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the nine-furlong G3 Prix la Force and with Gestut Schlenderhan's returning Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt over a mile and a...

Gestut Karlshof's homebred 2-year-old filly Mylady (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) posted an Aug. 22 debut score tackling 7 1/2 furlongs at Mulheim in her only prior start and doubled up with a narrow victory over one mile in Sunday's Listed Junioren-Preis at Dusseldorf to become the first stakes winner for her freshman sire (by Mastercraftsman {Ire}). The grey was rousted from the boxes to claim an early rail position and settled in a handy third after the initial strides. Locked in a pocket when trying to steal up the...

Gestut Etzean's unbeaten 3-year-old filly Palmas (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}) posted a half-length success in her May 16 debut going one mile at Hannover and doubled her tally when upped to 10 1/2 furlongs for Dusseldorf's June 19 Listed Diana-Trial in her only other start. Sent postward as the 9-2 second favourite back over the same strip for Sunday's 163rd Henkel Preis der Diana - German Oaks, she simply outclassed her rivals to win by daylight for a career high. The homebred bay maintained a rail berth through the...

Sunday's G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana at Dusseldorf offers the usual puzzle, with Dr. Christoph Berglar's Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), who was taken out of the G1 Prix de Diane due to her wide draw, possibly the standard-setter in the German Oaks. Successful in Hoppegarten's G2 Diana Trial May 23, the chestnut beat Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) by 3/4 of a length on that occasion before finishing runner-up in the 11-furlong G3 Mehl-Mulhens-Trophy at Hamburg July 4. First and second in this track's Listed Diana-Trial June 19, Palmas (Ger)...

Gestut Brummerhof's Novemba (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}) may have appeared to set an unsustainable pace when scooting off in front under Sybille Vogt in Sunday's G2 Wempe 101st German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf, but she was not for catching and powered further clear of toiling rivals to secure an impressive 7 1/2-length triumph. Vogt's enterprising tactics also yielded a first Classic success for a female rider. Novemba took two goes to shed maiden status, which she did at Hannover in August, and ran seventh in Baden-Baden's Sept. 12 G3 Zukunftsrennen before...

Gestut Auenquelle's Virginia Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), a full-brother to Saturday's €975,000 Arqana Arc Sale topper Virginia Joy (Ger), registered a narrow debut verdict tackling 8 1/2 furlongs at Dusseldorf on Sunday. 1st-Dusseldorf, €5,100, Mdn, 10-4, 2yo, 8 1/2fT, 1:46.43, g/s. VIRGINIA STORM (GER) (c, 2, Soldier Hollow {GB}--Virginia Sun {Ger} {Hwt. Older Mare-Ger at 14f+ & GSW-Ger}, by Doyen {Ire}) was allowed time to find a comfortable rhythm and raced in a prominent second for most of this debut. Rowed along at the top of the straight, the...