The English page - French guests

This was one of the weekends when I thought I would not have much to write about. But surprise, surprise even with moderate racing at Mannheim, a small German country track and then an average card in Mulheim an der Ruhr, there was just some interesting results. First to Mannheim, where its main event was a 13.000 € Handicap, but it was the winners of this race, Woody Wood, a 6-year-old Maxios son, winning for the sixth time in his career. He has become a real favourite of the German racing public and actually has over 1500 followers on Facebook. The win also gave his trainer, ex top jockey Andreas Suborics, his 200. winner as a trainer and his young and talented Italian born apprentice Andrea Ricupa his second success on the track.

While we are on the topic of Andreas Suborics, he sent a very nice prospect to Nancy last Thursday. The French-bred Dschingis Ranger (Dschingis Secret) won very nicely over 2500 meters (1m 4 ½ f) in very heavy ground. He came home 6 lengths and 10 lengths clear of the second and third and it will be interesting to see how he develops throughout the season. Maxim Pecheur is starting his training career for Gestuet Roettgen very well and Naila (Adlerflug) made it two from two for the new trainer in Mannheim. The following day he produced Weltbeste (Soldier Hollow) in fine fettle and the filly battled really well on the heavy Mulheimer ground to give him his third win. Weltbeste got the better of Wilko (Mastercraftsman) by a short head in this 3-year-old winners race over 2000 meters (1m 2f). Not to be out done though the ex Roettgen trainer Markus Klug, sent out New Emerald (Protectionist) for owner Stall Emerald to easily take the 3-year-old winners race over 1500 meters (7 ½ f). New Emerald is now 2 from 4, the colt was handled by stable jockey Andrasch Starke.

I myself took a trip to Prague (Czech Republic) last Sunday for their opening meeting of 2024. It was just very interesting to see how our neighbours do things as we get a lot of their runners in Dresden, Berlin and Leipzig. On a beautiful sunny day, the track was in super condition, and a real good crowd turned up. What was most interesting is the amount of runners the first race a 3 year old debutants race over 1600 meters (1m) attracted. In total 16 went to post.

This race was actually won by Niamey (Brametot) bred here in Germany by Gestuet Ohlerweiherhof. All eight races had over 10 starters and the final race on the programme went the way of Auenqueen (Soldier Hollow) bred in Germany at the Gestuet Auenquelle. The prize money might not have been the biggest overall, but they have a good track that’s working, plenty of horses to run and plenty of capable jockeys to ride and an overflow of grooms and ground staff.

Looking forward here in Germany this weekend to Duesseldorf`s Meeting and we have the Group III Kalkmann-Fruehjahrs-Meile as the best race on a seven-race card. This Group III event for 4-year-old and upwards over the mile and has attracted 13 starters at the overnight declaration stage. Gamestop (Lope de Vega) will make the trip from France for trainer Christophe Ferland. Running in the famous Wertheimer et Frere`s blue and white silks, the colt will be partnered by Enzo Corallo. The two-time winner was second beaten a neck in the Group I Qatar Prix Jean Luc Legardere at two. Last year`s winner See Hector (Counterattack) makes his seasonal debut and will try to emulate the feat, being one of the two Grewe starters. Sea Hector will have Thore Hammer Hansen in the plate while the other Ithaque (Oasis Dream) has Leon Wolff. Westminster Night is very interesting for the Andreas Woehler stable with stable jockey Eduardo Pedroza. The 5-year-old gelding won the Group III Premio Ribot in Rome on his penultimate start and finished the 2023 season with a third place at Group II level in Milan. The Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche winner Zerostress (Areion) steps back up to the mile for his first start of 2024 and with Andreas Suborics horses now in form, Best Lightning (Sidestep), 5th in this last year, comes with a run under his belt, Dapango (Soldier Hollow) would be interesting on his 2022 Form with Rene Piechulek for Roland Dzubasz. A huge day for the Amateur rider Patricia Tepper who will have her first black type ride here on the outsider Aladar Ari (Amaron).

Shannon Spratter