By Tom Frary
Sunday's G1 Preis von Europa was all about the fillies and mares as Gestut Ittlingen's India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}–Ivory Coast {Fr}, by Peintre Celebre) overcame the Irish challenger Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) to keep the Cologne prize at home. Registering her fourth group win when getting the better of the talented pair Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Allez France in April, the Waldemar Hickst-trained homebred was settled with two behind early by Rene Piechulek.
Sent forward at the top of the straight, the 5-year-old had total control 1 1/2 out and only had to be kept honest from there to score by 1 1/4 lengths from the Moyglare representative who outstayed Godolphin's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to get the silver medal by a neck. “Wow, what a girl she is! She is absolutely awesome,” Hickst said. “Ridden that way, she can easily do this twelve furlongs. We are over the moon and it was a brilliant ride from Rene.”
INDIA wins in Germany! 🇮🇳🇩🇪
5yo mare India gets her first Group 1 in the Preis Von Europa at Cologne, for Rene Piechulek and Waldermar Hickst.
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) September 24, 2023
India, whose previous best had come when winning the G3 Furstenberg-Rennen over this trip at Hoppegarten by six lengths last July, had done all her other winning in notable races at shorter including another 6 1/2-length success in Hanover's 11-furlong G3 Waldpfad-Trophy in October. Third in the 10 1/2-furlong G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in May, she had been demoted from first to second behind Kolossal (Ger) (Outstrip {GB}) when defending her title in the Furstenberg-Rennen back in Berlin when last seen in July and was a fresh mare entering this test which is traditionally one of Europe's weakest coming so close to the Arc.
Pedigree Notes
Becoming the eighth group 1 winner for her much-missed sire, India is the last live foal out of the unraced Ivory Coast (Fr) (Peintre Celebre), who is also responsible for the triple group-winning stayer Ivory Land (Fr) (Lando {Ger}). The second dam is the Listed Ben Marshall S. runner-up Land Of Ivory (The Minstrel), who produced the G1 National S. hero Heart Of Darkness (Glint of Gold {GB}), counts among her descendants the G2 German 1000 Guineas winner Akua'da (Ger) (Shamardal). This is also the family of the triple group 1-winning Gold And Ivory (Key To The Mint), the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Anees (Unbridled), the GI Turf Classic Invitational hero Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge) and the prolific sire Elusive Quality.
Sunday, Cologne, Germany
61ST PREIS VON EUROPA-G1, €155,000, Cologne, 9-24, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:29.09, sf.
1–INDIA (GER), 129, m, 5, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Ivory Coast (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
2nd Dam: Land Of Ivory, by The Minstrel
3rd Dam: Ivory Wand, by Sir Ivor
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Waldemar Hickst; J-Rene Piechulek. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 17-8-5-2, €324,700. *1/2 to Ivory Land (Fr) (Lando {Ger}), MGSW-Fr, $499,271. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Trevaunance (Ire), 129, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Liber Nauticus (Ire), by Azamour (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €30,000.
3–Siskany (GB), 132, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Halay (GB), by Dansili (GB). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €15,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 5.60, 8.60, 1.90.
Also Ran: Assistent (Ger), Live Your Dream (Ire), Best Of Lips (Ire), Straight (Ger), Sirjan (Ger). Scratched: Sisfahan (Fr).
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