Gestut Rottgen

Gestut Rottgen hosted its annual stallion parade on Saturday, with those on show including two new recruits to the German stallion ranks in Assistent (Ger) and Fantastic Moon (Ger), both sons of the German champion sire Sea The Moon (Ger). The well-attended event also featured a lecture from the renowned veterinarian Dr. Monica Venner. Assistent, who won the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern on his final career start at Munich in November, is one of three stallions on the Gestut Rottgen roster, along with proven sire Iquitos (Ger) and G1...

While stallion viewings on the ITM Irish Stallion Trail and La Route des Etalons plus the chance of viewing stallions at Newmarket was underway this past week, Gestut Schlenderhan's stallion base at Zieverich in their hometown of Bergheim hosted the eighth edition of its own stallion show. In the crispy cold, but beautifully sunny weather, the visitors flocked to the location to be greeted by coffee and cake plus a warm soup and a raffle which made €3,000 to be donated to a children's hospice. The four stallions on display...

Eckhard Sauren's ultra consistent Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Anna Kalla {Ger}, by Kallisto {Ger}), who finished in the top four in five prior Group 1 contests, gained compensation for his second in last year's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern with a late surge for glory in this year's renewal at Munich. The Henk Grewe trainee, who tuned up for this with a 3 1/4-length tally in last month's G3 Herbst-Trophy at Baden-Baden, employed patient tactics and was anchored in rear until well beyond halfway. Coming under pressure on...

At the risk of making anyone who knows me choke on their cornflakes upon reading this, I'm rather enjoying the big sprint races this year. The rivalry between Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) now stands at honours even, though it was hard not to feel that Asfoora was a little hard done by when Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) edged left just at the moment the Australian was launching her challenge down the stands' side in the G2 King...

Flying the flag for Germany on Sunday, Gestut Rottgen's G3 Diana-Trial winner Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}--Kizingo {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) made the most of her favourable inside draw and her abundant ability to make all in Dusseldorf's G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana. Always happy navigating the tight circuit under Martin Seidl, the Maxim Pecheur-trained 6-1 shot turned it on from the top of the straight and was soon beyond recall. At the line, the homebred had a length to spare over the closing Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), with...

The unforgettably named Thore Hammer-Hansen bade farewell to British racing at the end of last season to take up a retainer with leading German owner Eckhard Sauren. On Sunday he will go to post for the G1 Deutsches Derby as the leading rider in the country.  In many respects it was a homecoming for the young jockey, who was born in Cologne and spent some of his formative years in Baden-Baden, where his Danish-born father Lennart was riding and later training. It can also be regarded as a wise move. ...

Gestut Rottgen's homebred 3-year-old filly Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}--Kizingo {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), who ran fourth at Baden-Baden in her one run for the Markus Klug stable last year, broke through for new trainer Maxim Pecheur at Dusseldorf on sophomore return in April and continued on the upgrade with a last-gasp win in Sunday's G3 Diana-Trial at Hoppegarten. Her victory provided trainer with a maiden pattern-race success. The 7-2 chance went forward from the outside gate to stalk the pacesetting New York City (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger})...

As the countdown to the start of the covering season begins, a host of Germany's stallions will be on parade at Gestut Rottgen, in Cologne, on Saturday, January 27. The stud's own line-up of Windstoss (Ger), Millowitsch (Ger) and new recruit Iquitos (Ger) will be joined by visiting sires Best Solution (Ire) and Accon (Ger) from Gestut Lunzen, and Gestut Fahrhof's Alson (Ger). Also in attendance will be Japan (GB), who stands at Gestut Etzean, Destino (Ger) from Gestut Westerberg, Gestut Hof Ittlingen's homebred Neatico (Ger), and Rubaiyat (Ger), who...

German Horse of the Year and established sire Iquitos (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will move to Gestut Rottgen beginning in 2024, the stud announced on Tuesday. Standing for a partnership of Gestut Ammerland, Gestut Graditz and Mulligan Stable, his fee will be €6,000. A multiple Group 1 winner, the son of Irika (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) has already been represented by Group 3 winner Mr Hollywood (Ire), who was second in the G1 Deutsches Derby, and listed winner and group-placed Drawn To Race (Ger) from his first crop of just five foals...

Henk Grewe trainee Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Anna Kalla {Ger}, by Kallisto {Ger}) went postward for Sunday's G2 Carl Jaspers Preis at Cologne coming back off a half-length victory in Dusseldorf's Listed Grand Prix Aufgalopp on seasonal return last month and upset G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern victor Tunnes (Ire) (Guiliani {Ire}), G1 Preis der Diana second Wagnis (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Alter Adler (Ger) (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) for a career high in the 12-furlong feature. Last year's G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Preis von...

Sporting the famed Gestut Rottgen silks in Cologne's Preis vom Weidenpescher Park on Sunday, Naila (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) overpowered her peers to become the latest German TDN Rising Star. Sent off the 9-10 favourite for the 1850-metre maiden, the Markus Klug-trained chestnut broke well from the widest stall to track the leading duo throughout the early stages. Taking control approaching the two-furlong marker, she surged clear to win unchallenged by 10 lengths with Andrasch Starke easing down. The winner is the last known foal out of the listed-winning dam Naomia (Ger) (Monsun...

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...