By Tom Frary
One of seven from the Markus Klug stable, Windstoss proved the one when it mattered as stablemate Colomano (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) flopped in this competitive renewal. Having broken his maiden at a mile on the third try at Cologne in October, the bay signed off with a sixth in the G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen over 8 1/2 furlongs at Krefeld in November. Returning to win Dusseldorf's Apr. 9 Listed Derby-Trial over 11 furlongs, he was ridden from the front when runner-up to Colomano in the G2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen also at that distance at Cologne June 11 but was held up this time racing worse than mid-division throughout the early stages. Blocked as the field started the turn for home, the homebred had no choice than to challenge wide as they straightened up and had abundant ground to make up as Enjoy Vijay cut loose on the front end towards the far rail. Delivering a sustained spell of acceleration down the middle of the track, he cut down that rival in the final 50 yards as Rosenpurpur chased him up the same strip.
Windstoss was becoming the third Derby winner for Gestut Rottgen following Palastpage (Ger) in 1932 and Uomo (Ger) in 1959 and the first son of the 2004 Derby hero Shirocco to prevail in this. Trainer Markus Klug had been here before when saddling the 2014 hero Sea the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), but for jockey Maxim Pecheur it represented another first. He was carrying on a tradition in his sireline of winning this prestigious affair, as Shirocco's father Monsun (Ger) provided three Derby winners in total and is himself by the 1979 hero Konigsstuhl (Ger). Windstoss is the first foal out of the winning Wellenspiel, who is herself a daughter of the Listed Preis der Winterkonigin scorer and G2 Preis der Diana and G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up Well Known. The latter is the dam of five black-type performers, headed by the G1 Preis von Europa-winning sire Well Made (Ger). The third dam Well Proved landed the G3 German 1000 Guineas and produced the G1 Oaks d'Italia third Well Minded (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and the G3 Prix de Psyche scorer Welluna (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}), who is the second dam of last year's G3 Preis der Winterkonigin heroine Well Spoken (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Wellenspiel also has a 2-year-old colt by Soldier Hollow (GB) named Weltstar (Ger), a yearling colt by Reliable Man (GB) named Walerian (Ger) and a 2017 colt by Kamsin (Ger).
Sunday, Hamburg, Germany
IDEE 148TH DEUTSCHES DERBY-G1, €650,000, HMB, 7-2, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:41.52, s/h.
1–@&WINDSTOSS (GER), 128, c, 3, by Shirocco (Ger)
1st Dam: Wellenspiel (Ger), by Sternkonig (Ire)
2nd Dam: Well Known (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger)
3rd Dam: Well Proved (Ger), by Prince Ippi (Ger)
(€16,000 RNA Ylg '15 BBAGO). O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug; J-Maxim Pecheur. €390,000. Lifetime Record: 8-3-1-1, €422,600. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Enjoy Vijay (Ger), 128, c, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Enjoy the Life (GB), by Medicean (GB).(€58,000 Ylg '15 BBAGS). O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €12,000.
3–Rosenpurpur (Ger), 128, c, 3, Pour Moi (Ire)–Rosenreihe (Ire), by Catcher in the Rye (Ire). (€52,000 RNA Ylg '15 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Wittekindshof (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €6,000.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 1. Odds: 6.50, 5.70, 22.70.
Also Ran: Shanjo (Ger), Promise of Peace (Jpn), Monreal (Ire), Parviz (Ire), Kastano (Ger), Amun (Ger), Ming Jung (Fr), Gepard (Ger), Khan (Ger), Colomano (GB), Sternkranz (Ger), Oriental Khan (Ger), Sargas (Ire), Northsea Star (Ger), Warring States (Jpn). Scratched: Langtang (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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