Penalty Becomes 98th Pattern-Race Winner for Frankel in Dortmund Feature

While soccer's European Championships has witnessed just one successful penalty kick in 24 matches played in Germany thus far, Eckhard Sauren's €210,000 BBAG September yearling Penalty (Ger) (Frankel {GB}–Praia {Ger}, by Big Shuffle) made a mark of his own and added to his runner-up finish in last month's G2 German 2000 Guineas with a career best in Sunday's G3 35th Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft at Dortmund.

Penalty backed up a five-length maiden win, going one mile at Dusseldorf in March, with a second over the same distance at Cologne the following month and broke smartly from an outer gate to stalk the pace in second after the initial exchanges of this first start beyond the one-mile trip. Three lengths adrift of dual stakes scorer Nina's Lob (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) turning for home, the 8-5 favourite made continued headway under pressure to tackle that rival passing the furlong marker and was pushed out to assert superiority in this clash of the generations. The winning margin was 3/4-of-a-length and it was a further 3 1/2 lengths back to last year's winner Best Lightning (Fr) (Sidestep {Aus}) in third.

“He is a top horse, it's exactly the reason why I am back in Germany and I would like to thank [owner] Mr [Eckhard] Sauren for placing his trust in me,” Thore Hammer-Hansen, Sauren's retained jockey, told GaloppOnline. “I actually wanted to be further back in the field, but he just jumped too well. He is still a big baby, but a truly exceptional horse.” Winning trainer Henk Grewe added, “It was important that Penalty switched off along the way and he was totally relaxed. That's exactly what we wanted to see and he has made another leap forward.”

Pedigree Notes
Penalty, who becomes the 98th pattern-race winner for his sire, is the latest of 11 foals and one of four stakes performers out of the dual stakes-placed Praia (Ger) Big Shuffle). Praia's nine winners include G1 Premio Roma hero Potemkin (Ger) (New Approach {Ire}), stakes-winning G3 Preis der Winterkonigin and G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen third Paraisa (GB) (Red Ransom) and the stakes-placed Praiano (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}). Praia's descendants also include Listed Foundation Stakes victor Victory Chime (Ire) (Campanologist) and G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup runner-up Pontchateau (Ire) (War Command). The April-foaled bay's stakes-winning second dam Prada (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}) produced G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victrix Paita (GB) (Intikhab) and G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Puntilla (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}). Paita is the dam of G3 Prix d'Hedouville winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Pirika (Ire) Monsun {Ger}) while Puntilla is the dam of Listed Berberis-Rennen third Pakama (Ger) (Kalatos {Ger}).

Sunday, Dortmund, Germany
35TH GROSSER PREIS DER WIRTSCHAFT-G3, €55,000, Dortmund, 6-23, 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:48.67, sf.
1–PENALTY (GER), 118, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Praia (Ger) (MSP-Ger), by Big Shuffle
2nd Dam: Prada (Ger), by Lagunas (GB)
3rd Dam: Pradera (Ger), by Abary (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€210,000 Ylg '22 BBAGS). O-Eckhard Sauren; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (GER); T-Henk Grewe; J-Thore Hammer-Hansen. €32,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, €68,000. *1/2 to Potemkin (Ger) (New Approach {Ire}), G1SW-Ity, MGSW & MG1SP-Ger, GSW-Fr, $720,912; Paraisa (GB) (Red Ransom), SW & MGSP-Ger; and Praiano (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}), SP-Qat. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nina's Lob (Ger), 126, m, 5, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Nina Celebre (Ire) (MSW-Ger & SP-Ity), by Peintre Celebre. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Gestut Wittekindshof (GER); T-Andreas Wohler. €12,000.
3–Best Lightning (Fr), 129, h, 6, Sidestep (Aus)–Best Dreaming (Ger), by Big Shuffle. (€9,000 RNA Ylg '19 BBAGO). O-Stall Ad Episas; B-Hermann Pfister (FR); T-Andreas Suborics. €6,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3HF, HD. Odds: 1.60, 6.30, 12.00.
Also Ran: Arcandi (Ger), Lightning Jock (Ire), Thekingofmyheart (Ire), Skylo (Ger), See Hector (Ger). Scratched: Aguirre (Ger).