By Sean Cronin
Stall Hanse's Geography (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}–Guajara {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) followed up a debut success at Dusseldorf in August with a fifth in Baden-Baden's G3 Zukunfts-Rennen and bounced back to claim a career high in Sunday's G3 Wettstar.de – Preis des Winterfavoriten, Germany's premier juvenile contest, at Cologne.
The 21-10 second choice was the sharpest of seven into stride and tanked along under a firm on the lead from flagfall in this first attempt at this one-mile distance. Shaken up to poach a decisive advantage with 500 metres remaining, he was beyond recall entering the final furlong and kept on strongly in the latter stages to hold the late thrust of Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) by a neck. The duo were four lengths clear of the remainder, headed by 2-1 favourite Inside Matters (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
“I didn't really want to go to the front and it wasn't the plan to do so, but we got off to a fast start and nobody wanted to take the lead,” winning rider Rene Piechulek told GaloppOnline. “He just did it all by himself. He has a lot of heart, but was unable to show his true value [in the Zukunfts-Rennen] at Baden-Baden. We still don't know what happened there.” Trainer Peter Schiergen added, “He's going on winter break now and we'll see whether or not he'll be one of the leading stayers in the future.”
GEOGRAPHY (Holy Roman Emperor) wins G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten
🥈NARRATIVO (Adlerflug) came flying pic.twitter.com/7n2KVeBRCo
— Luis (@Lskmml_) October 8, 2023
Pedigree Notes
Geography, who becomes the 56th pattern-race winner for his sire, is the fourth of five foals and first black-type scorer out of Listed Premio Paolo Mezzanotte victrix Guajara (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}). He is a half to Listed Glasgow S. runner-up Groundbreaker (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and a weanling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB). The March-foaled bay's second dam, Listed Dortmunder Stutenpreis third Global World (Ger) (Big Shuffle), has produced three stakes winners headed by G3 Frankfurter Stutenpreis victrix and multiple stakes producer Goathemala (Ger) (Black Sam Bellamy {Ire}). She is also the second dam of G3 Meld S.-winning G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis third Patrick Sarsfield (Fr) (Australia {GB}). Global World is a full-sister to G3 Dusseldorfer Fruhjahrsmeile victor Global Thrill (GB) as well as being kin to six further stakes performers including G2 Maurice Lacroix Trophy victor Global Dream (Ger) (Seattle Dancer). Geography's fourth dam is G3 German 1000 Guineas heroine Grimpola (Ger) (Windwurf {Ger}), whose descendants feature MG1SW Irish Derby-winning sire Fame And Glory (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire) and MG1SW 1000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Sunday, Cologne, Germany
WETTSTAR.DE – PREIS DES WINTERFAVORITEN-G3, €155,000, Cologne, 10-8, 2yo, 8fT, 1:35.21, g/s.
1–GEOGRAPHY (GER), 128, c, 2, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
1st Dam: Guajara (Ger), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Global World (Ger), by Big Shuffle
3rd Dam: Goonda (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€95,000 Ylg '22 BBAGS). O-Stall Hanse; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (GER); T-Peter Schiergen; J-Rene Piechulek. €85,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €93,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Narrativo (Ger), 128, c, 2, Adlerflug (Ger)–Nicella (Ger), by Lando (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen; T-Markus Klug. €31,000.
3–Inside Matters (Fr), 128, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Silimeri (Fr), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€160,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Eckhard Sauren; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Ecurie Skymarc Farm & Lordship Stud (FR); T-Henk Grewe. €20,500.
Margins: NK, 4, NO. Odds: 2.10, 4.80, 2.00.
Also Ran: Borna (Fr), Larios (Ger), Backes (Ger), Mister Fernando (Ire). Scratched: Maigret (Ger).
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