Iffezheim

Granted leave of absence from 'TDN Rising Star' Beauvatier's G3 Prix La Rochette victory in Paris earlier in the day, conditioner Yann Barberot was on hand to witness G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud placegetter Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}--Grey Anatomy {GB}, by Slickly {Fr}) set the seal on a notable double, and claim a Group 1 first for his sire, in Sunday's 153rd Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden. Last term's Listed Derby du Midi and Listed Grand Prix du Nord victor had his task made slightly...

Stall Hanse's Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}--Cherry Danon {Ire}, by Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who ran sixth in two Group 3 starts after annexing May's G3 45th Kronimus Badener Meile at Baden-Baden, returned over the same one-mile strip of that stakes breakthrough to double his pattern-race tally in Sunday's G2 90th Brunner Oettingen-Rennen at the Iffezheim venue. The 17-2 chance occupied a slot in rear after a slightly tardy getaway and remained there through halfway. Shaken up when sent wide into the straight, he made relentless headway from the two pole...

Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Darkaniya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}--Daryakana {Fr}, by Selkirk), who ran fifth in last month's G1 Prix Jean-Romanet, added to a first black-type win in July's Listed Prix de la Pepiniere and doubled a her stakes tally with victory in Saturday's G2 T von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden. The 9-5 favourite lobbed along in seventh passing the judge first time and bounded forward to stalk the leaders in fourth along the backstraight. Inching into second rounding the home turn, she was shaken to to seize control appoaching the final...

IFFEZHEIM, Germany--Baden-Baden, so good they named it twice. Okay, so the BBAG sales complex and its neighbouring grand racecourse may be in the small nearby village of Iffezheim but it is Baden-Baden that lends its name to the current stop on the European yearling sales tour, now that Donville is in the rear-view mirror. The caravan rolls on, and it is always wise to stay on for a few days in Baden-Baden if time allows as, whether you're a pedigree purist or you simply enjoy a good day out at...

Gallop Racing's G3 Sweet Solera S. fifth Carolina Reaper (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Dark Promise {GB}, by Shamardal) lined up as the 9-5 favourite for Wednesday's 150th Renate & Albrecht Woeste Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden, Germany's first juvenile Group-race contest of the year, and became the third pattern-race winner for her freshman sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) with a last-gasp triumph in the seven-furlong Iffezheim feature. The March-foaled bay had earlier registered a sixth over the same trip in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., before breaking through at Newmarket in her penultimate...

Stall Salzburg's Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Mill Marin {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), whose previous career best was a runner-up finish behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in last November's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern, initiated a pilot merry-go-round when Rene Piechulek was obliged to take the mount aboard the Sarah Steinberg trainee, but it was all smiles for the jockey as the 4-year-old colt upset illustrious opposition in a stellar renewal of Sunday's G1 152nd Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden's Iffezheim venue. Piechulek had ridden last year's winner and G1...

Dr Christoph Berglar's homebred 4-year-old distaffer Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}--Amabelle {Ger}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who finished 3/4-of-a-length behind G1 Deutsches Derby hero Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) when second in July's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich in her latest start, is set to dine at the top table again after annexing Saturday's G2 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden. Connections immediately nominated both G1 Preis von Europa and GI E. P. Taylor S. as possible destinations after she defeated stablemate India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in a hot renewal of...

BADEN-BADEN, Germany--There has been much for German racing and breeding to celebrate since its premier yearling sale of 12 months ago. That same weekend, Torquator Tasso (Ger), a graduate of the 2018 sale, landed the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden just across the road from the auction house before going on to his memorable victory in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. A reminder, if one were needed, that German bloodlines can mix it with the very best in the world, as also exemplified recently by the GI Beverly...

The inaugural BBAG Christmas Online Sale will begin on Nov. 26 and bidding will close on Nov. 28. Horses of all ages are permitted for the auction which is identical in format to the spring online auction, BBAG announced on Monday. Horses do not have to travel to the sales ring in Iffezheim. Videos and photos of lots will be available in the online catalogue after publication. The deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 18. For more information, please visit the BBAG website.

Trainer Peter Schiergen had already scooped last month's G3 Zukunfstrennen, one of Germany's four juvenile pattern-race contests, with Rocchigiani (GB) (Time Test {GB}) and he doubled up with the once-raced maiden winner Lizaid (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) in Sunday's G3 Die Winterkonigin - Preis des Derbysiegers Sisfahan at Baden-Baden to provide that filly's freshman sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) with a first black-type triumph. Lizaid's debut score came in the same one-mile Hannover maiden annexed by 2018 heroine Whispering Angel (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and she remained undefeated to provide her trainer...

The mixed catalogue for the BBAG Sales and Racing Festival is now available to view online.  A total of 329 lots have been catalogued for the two-day auction, which takes place after racing on Friday, Oct. 15 at 5pm and all day on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 10am. The majority of the catalogue consists of yearlings, most of whom are nominated for the BBAG auction races, and some are eligible for French premiums. Along with the 238 yearlings, two foals have been entered, as well as 59 broodmares and 30...

Baden-Baden's 'Grosse Woche', which includes some top-class racing action alongside music festivals and Germany's major yearling sale at BBAG, begins on Sunday, with the G3 Preis der Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe as the highlight of an 11-race card. After a 10-month break, and with the racecourse at Iffezheim under new management, the 'Super Sunday' fixture ushers in four meetings--down from six in previous years--throughout the week, culminating in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden the following Sunday. Among those set to line up in this Sunday's Group 3 contest over 2,000 metres is...