By Sean Cronin
Five contenders went postward for Sunday's G3 Wettstar.de Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne and, despite the dearth in quantity for Germany's premier juvenile contest of the year, the quality was not for questioning as the quintet raced line abreast entering the final quarter-mile before Stall Hanse's hitherto undefeated Lifetimes (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}–La Petite Virginia {Ger}, by Konigstiger {Ger}) asserted superiority in the closing stages of a thrilling renewal.
The Peter Schiergen trainee had recorded a facile 10-length triumph over the same one-mile trip at Dortmund last month and, lining up as the 19-10 second choice, was steadied to race last of the five runners after an alert break. Urged forward in the straight, he joined all four opponents passing the quarter-mile marker and stayed on powerfully under whipless rousting in the closing stages to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length from 17-10 favourite Think Giant (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The duo pulled 2 1/2 lengths clear of the remainder, headed by Serienadler (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), inside the final furlong. The win provided Schiergen with a sixth victory and followed in the hoofprints of Geography (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who registered a narrow success last year.
Ownership vehicle Stall Hanse consists of Moritz Becher, Philip von Ullmann, Vinzenz Klemm and Dr Andreas Jacobs. Becher stated, “We do hope that he is one for the [G1 Deutsches] Derby next year, unlike [subsequent G3 Fritz Henkel-Preis winner] Geography.”
Schiergen continued, “He has come along very well from his runaway maiden victory [at Dortmund] to here, where he had to fight for the first time. Fight he did and he did it well. I think he will be able to handle a longer trip.”
Winning rider Bauyrzhan Murzabayev added, “He is definitely a very good horse. He always works well and was the deserved winner here.”
🇩🇪 Winter Favorite Prize
Cologne – Groupe 3 – 2 ans – 1600m – 5 Pts – 155 000 €🏆 🥇Lifetimes 🏇Bauyrzhan Murzabayev @BauyrzhanBauy1
🥈Think Giant
🥉Serienadler📖(Gleneagles (Ire) @coolmorestud – La Petite Virginia (Ger) par Konigstiger… pic.twitter.com/vtCgLyTT3D
— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) October 13, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Lifetimes, the fifth of six foals, is one of two scorers produced by an unraced half-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby-winning sire Lavirco (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}), dual Group-winning G1 Deutsches Derby placegetter Laveron (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}) and G3 Furstenberg-Rennen victor Lyonel's Glory (GB) (Green Desert). He becomes the 25th pattern-race winner for his sire. Descendants of the April-foaled chestnut's second dam La Virginia (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}) also include Group 3-winning G1 Premio Lydia Tesio runner-up Lacy (Ger) (Authorized {Ire}) and dual Group 3-winning sire Langtang (Ger) (Campanologist). La Virginia is a full-sister to G3 Neusser Herbst Stutenpreis victrix and G3 German 1000 Guineas runner-up La Colorada (Ger), herself the dam of multiple Group 1-winning sire Lomitas (GB) (Niniski), with this being the dam line of Gestut Fahrhof's blue hen Love In (GB) (Crepello {GB}). The latter's descendants include G1 Deutsches Derby-winning sire Lagunas (GB) (Ile De Bourbon) and leading sire Lord Of England (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}). Lifetimes is a half-brother to G1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine and G1 Yorkshire Oaks third La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Camelot (GB).
Sunday, Cologne, Germany
WETTSTAR.DE – PREIS DES WINTERFAVORITEN-G3, €155,000, Cologne, 10-13, 2yo, 8fT, 1:39.76, sf.
1–LIFETIMES (IRE), 128, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: La Petite Virginia (Ger), by Konigstiger (Ger)
2nd Dam: La Virginia (Ger), by Surumu (Ger)
3rd Dam: La Dorada (Ire), by Kronzeuge (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€85,000 RNA Ylg '23 BBAGS). O-Stall Hanse; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. €85,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €91,000. *1/2 to La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, $470,569. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Think Giant (GB), 128, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Think Of Me (Ger), by So You Think (NZ). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€160,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Eckhard Sauren; B-Clear Light SAS (GB); T-Christophe Ferland. €31,000.
3–Serienadler (GB), 128, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Serienheilige (Ger), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Wachowitz; B-Gestut Wittekindshof (GB); T-Marcel Weiss. €20,500.
Margins: 3/4, 2HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.90, 1.70, 2.80.
Also Ran: Kolsch (Ger), Name Lord (Ger).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
