Peter Schiergen

Gestut Ebbesloh's G3 Preis der Winterkonigin victrix Nicoreni (Brametot) finished second in both prior starts this term and she put her head in front where it mattered most and provided trainer Peter Schiergen with a fifth renewal of Sunday's G1 167th Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks) at Dusseldorf. "It always feels good to win such a traditional event," reflected Schiergen. "The filly has never done anything wrong. She was close up in both her previous starts this year, and won the [G3] Preis der Winterkonigin at two. Leon [Wolff] did...

Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee's Zuckerhut (Almanzor) was too good for his rivals in a strong renewal of Monday's G2 Sparkasse KolnBonn 190th Union-Rennen at Cologne and the G3 Bavarian Classic fourth punched his ticket to July's G1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg with a one-length triumph in Germany's premier trial for the main event. The 5-2 favourite, who had previously snagged his Apr. 6 debut at Mulheim, employed patient tactics and was positioned off the pace in sixth for most of this 11-furlong contest. Rowed along to reduce arrears at the top...

Stall Hanse's Geography will fly the flag for Germany in the G3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom on Derby Day this coming Saturday, according to trainer Peter Schiergen. A multiple group winner in his native land, the 4-year-old most recently won the G3 Kalkmann-Fruhjahrs-Meile in mid-April and was gelded last month. The son of Holy Roman Emperor will face Archie Watson trainee Brave Emperor (Sioux Nation) in that contest. "He's coming over to run, Derby day is a big day, so we will be coming," said Schiergen, who won the G1...

Sammarco, a dual Group 1 winner when trained in Germany by Peter Schiergen, is set to make his Australian debut for Ciaron Maher at Sandown on Saturday. The son of Camelot was a high-class three-year-old in 2022 when he registered back-to-back victories at the top level in the Deutsches Derby and Grosser Dallmayr-Preis - Bayerisches Zuchtrennen. He now kicks off his career in Australia as the winner of five of his 18 starts and over €630,000 in total prize-money. "It's going to be interesting how that German form ties in,"...

Gestut Ebbesloh's homebred Nicoreni (Ger) (Brametot {Ire}--Nouvelle Neige {Ger, by Big Shuffle) broke through over seven furlongs with an impressive debut triumph in an Aug. 24 Baden-Baden maiden and continued on the upgrade with an equally taking display in Sunday's G3 Carla Kellner Zukunftsrennen Preis der Winterkonigin back at the Iffezheim venue. The 77-10 chance was swiftly into stride from the inside stall and occupied a position racing in a handy third through halfway in this one-mile contest. Looming large off the home turn, she was ridden along to seize...

Five contenders went postward for Sunday's G3 Wettstar.de Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne and, despite the dearth in quantity for Germany's premier juvenile contest of the year, the quality was not for questioning as the quintet raced line abreast entering the final quarter-mile before Stall Hanse's hitherto undefeated Lifetimes (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--La Petite Virginia {Ger}, by Konigstiger {Ger}) asserted superiority in the closing stages of a thrilling renewal. The Peter Schiergen trainee had recorded a facile 10-length triumph over the same one-mile trip at Dortmund last month and, lining up...

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 Ittlingen's 3-year-old colt Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Nicella {Ger}, by Lando {Ger}), who hit the board in last month's G3 Prix Hocquart at ParisLongchamp, was too good for eight domestic rivals on home soil and booked his ticket to next month's G1 Deutsches Derby with a decisive victory in Sunday's G2 Sparkasse KolnBonn 189th Union-Rennen at Cologne. Trainer Peter Schiergen's four prior winners of the 11-furlong contest include 2022's subsequent Deutsches Derby hero Sammarco (Ger) (Camelot {GB}). Last term's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten runner-up employed patient tactics from flagfall and...

With the late scratching of Germany's leading marathoner and morning line favourite Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), jockey Rene Piechulek made the switch to Gestut Ittlingen's alternate Alessio (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}--Alandia {Ire}, by Adlerflug {Ger}) and made the most of that ownermate's absence to register a career high in Sunday's G2 Comer Group International 53rd Oleander-Rennen at Hoppegarten. Alessio, who ran sixth in 2022's G1 Deutsches Derby, notched a first pattern-race win in October's G3 The Land Trophy at Baden-Baden and brought the curtain down on 2023 with a runner-up finish...

Stall Hanse's Geography (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}--Guajara {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) followed up a debut success at Dusseldorf in August with a fifth in Baden-Baden's G3 Zukunfts-Rennen and bounced back to claim a career high in Sunday's G3 Wettstar.de - Preis des Winterfavoriten, Germany's premier juvenile contest, at Cologne. The 21-10 second choice was the sharpest of seven into stride and tanked along under a firm on the lead from flagfall in this first attempt at this one-mile distance. Shaken up to poach a decisive advantage with 500 metres...

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...

Stall Nizza's homebred 2-year-old Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}--Amora {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) encountered the 'TDN Rising Star' display of Aspirant (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) going one mile in his Sept. 11 debut at Dusseldorf and shed maiden status in impressive fashion when returning to action over the same course and distance last month. He was hammered into 11-5 favouritism, off the back that 3 1/2-length tally, for Sunday's G3 Krefelder Fur Krefeld Grosser Preis der Brauerei Konigshof - Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen at Krefeld and justified support at the tills with...