By Tom Frary
Sunday's G2 Sparkasse Kolnbonn-Union-Rennen at Cologne was a tactically tricky affair, but it ultimately proved another relatively straightforward task for Stall Wasserfreunde's Wonderful Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) as he continued his march towards emulating his sire in the July 12 G1 Deutsches Derby. Always prominent off the early crawl under Andrasch Starke, the 3-10 favourite loomed wide on the home turn and quickened into the lead from the top of the straight. Ridden out with hands and heels, the chestnut comfortably held Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by a 3/4 of a length to confirm the form of their encounter in the May 8 G3 Cologne Classic.
Representing Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, Uwe Aisch, Peter Vogt and new partner Ecki Sauren, Wonderful Moon will enter the Hamburg Classic as likely favourite with the promise of more to come. Second to stablemate Rubaiyat (Fr) (Areion {Ger}) in the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten in October, he sprang to the forefront with a 12-length success in Krefeld's G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen the following month to assume the mantle of Germany's champion juvenile. Returning with a facile win in the Cologne Classic over 10 1/2 furlongs May 8, he was again able to hold Grocer Jack at bay without stress and although the runner-up finished closer this time, there was no question of Wonderful Moon being reeled in at any stage. Palao (Ger) (Champs Elysees {GB}) was again just behind in third to repeat the Cologne Classic trifecta.
Wonderful Moon is out of Wonderful Filly (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), a half-sister to the G3 Prix Chloe winner and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis third Wunder (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and the dual G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise runner-up Advanced (GB) (Night Shift). Responsible for the listed-placed Wonderful Gorl (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and the yearling colt Wonderful Eagle (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), she is a granddaughter of Wonderful Lady (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}) who was third in the G2 German 1000 Guineas before producing three black-type winners. Interestingly, Wonderful Lady's three-parts-brother Winwood (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}) was placed in the 1987 G1 Deutsches Derby.
Sunday, Cologne, Germany
SPARKASSE KOLNBONN-UNION-RENNEN-G2, €35,000, Cologne, 6-14, 3yo, 11fT, 2:17.84, gd.
1–WONDERFUL MOON (GER), 128, c, 3, by Sea The Moon (Ger)
1st Dam: Wonderful Filly (Ger), by Lomitas (GB)
2nd Dam: Wonderful World (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Wonderful Filly (Ger), by Surumu (Ger)
(€55,000 Ylg '18 BBAGS). O-Stall Wasserfreunde; B-Gestut Gorlsdorf (GER); T-Henk Grewe; J-Andrasch Starke. €20,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Ger, 6-4-1-1, €102,600. *1/2 to Wonderful Gorl (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Grocer Jack (Ger), 128, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Good Donna (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). (€85,000 RNA Ylg '18 BBAGS). O/B-Dr Christoph Berglar (GER); T-Waldemar Hickst. €7,750.
3–Palao (Ger), 128, c, 3, Champs Elysees (GB)–Plissetskaia (Fr), by Caerleon. O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €4,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 0.30, 4.60, 21.90.
Also Ran: Tax For Max (Ger), Kaspar (Ger), Sir Polski (Ger), Nippon (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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