By Sean Cronin
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 to launch his challenge entering the final furlong and surged clear in style thereafter to ward off British raider Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation) by 2 1/2 lengths.
“We had a great trip throughout the race and were able to bide our time for as long as necessary,” winning rider Rene Piechulek told GaloppOnline. “Even though it may have not appeared that way, it was never close for us and he just makes a huge effort on that ground.”
Pedigree Notes
Calif is a son of G3 Hamburger Stutenmeile victrix and G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up Cherry Danon (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and thus kin to the stakes-winning trio Celebrity (Ger) (Shamardal), Chilly Filly (Ger) (Makfi {GB}) and Cherry Lady (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). One of his sire's 31 pattern-race winners, he is also a half-brother to the unraced 2-year-old filly Cherry Lou (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a weanling filly by Mehmas (Ire). The April-foaled dark bay's second dam Sherifa (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is a full-sister to the stakes-winning dam of three black-type winners headed by MGSW sire Sommerabend (GB) (Shamardal). From the dam line of legendary champion Schwarzgold (Ger) (Alchimist {Ger}), this is a family which includes GI Hollywood Turf Cup hero Sanagas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Sirius (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}).
Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
90TH BRUNNER – OETTINGEN-RENNEN-G2, €70,000, Baden-Baden, 9-3, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:41.64, gd.
1–CALIF (GER), 128, g, 4, by Areion (Ger)
1st Dam: Cherry Danon (Ire) (GSW-Ger & GSP-Ity, $103,338), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sherifa (Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Shona (Ger), by Windwurf (Ger)
(€95,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBAGS). O-Stall Hanse; B-Gestut Brummerhof (GER); T-Peter Schiergen; J-Rene Piechulek. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 17-3-3-3, €118,850. *1/2 to Celebrity (Ger) (Shamardal), MSW & GSP-Ger; Chilly Filly (Ger) (Makfi {GB}), SW & GSP-Ger; and Cherry Lady (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), SW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Brave Emperor (Ire), 123, g, 3, Sioux Nation–Roman Gal (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). (£19,000 Ylg '21 GOUKPR). O-Middleham Park Racing LX; B-Caroline Hanly & Sean Ronan (IRE); T-Archie Watson. €15,500.
3–Aguirre (Ger), 128, g, 5, Camelot (GB)–Amazona (Ger), by Dubawi (Ire). O-Gestut Schlenderhan; B-Stall Ullmann (GER); T-Markus Klug. €8,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1HF, HF. Odds: 8.50, 4.80, 5.80.
Also Ran: Arnis Master (Ger), Dapango (Ger), See Hector (Ger), Angers (Fr), Parol (Ger), Best Lightning (Fr).
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