Cologne

Bouncing back to form at Cologne on Sunday, last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) registered a first success since the G2 Prix Niel in September in the re-scheduled G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft. Keen early under restraint from Rene Piechulek racing in mid-division, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 4-year-old was delivered in the centre of the track and had a slight edge with a furlong remaining. Asserting from there, the 3-1 second favourite had a neck to spare over the 11-5 market-leader Lordano (Ger)...

Making all under an enterprising ride from Silvestre De Sousa, Clive Washbourn's Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Hairy Rocket {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) took Cologne's G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas back to Britain on Monday. Last year's G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up, who had enjoyed a confidence-boosting win in a Goodwood conditions event earlier this month, was needing the line as Penalty (Ger) (Frankel {GB}) closed in down the centre of the track and it came in time for the David Menuisier-trained colt to prevail by a neck,...

Cologne is the focal point of the next European Classic action on Monday, with the G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas hosting the unbeaten Maigret (Ger) (Counterattack {Aus}) and a pair of British raiders in Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Ten Bob Tony (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). While the former looked the best of his generation at around this trip when winning Krefeld's 8 1/2-furlong G3 Dr Busch-Memorial last month, the foreign contingent have been mixing it in the big time with Ten Bob Tony...

Coolmore is the new sponsor of the G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas, which will be held at Cologne on Monday, May 20, the organisation announced on Tuesday. "German breeders have been great supporters of Coolmore over the years and we have been long-time race sponsors in the country," said Coolmore's Joe Hernon. "We were more than happy to get involved on this occasion." Three of the past 10 renewals of the German Classic have featured winners by Coolmore sires, including the late Zoffany (Ire)'s Knife Edge (Ire)...

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...

Sporting the famed Gestut Rottgen silks in Cologne's Preis vom Weidenpescher Park on Sunday, Naila (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) overpowered her peers to become the latest German TDN Rising Star. Sent off the 9-10 favourite for the 1850-metre maiden, the Markus Klug-trained chestnut broke well from the widest stall to track the leading duo throughout the early stages. Taking control approaching the two-furlong marker, she surged clear to win unchallenged by 10 lengths with Andrasch Starke easing down. The winner is the last known foal out of the listed-winning dam Naomia (Ger) (Monsun...

Off the mark on debut over seven furlongs at Munich Sept. 12, Liberty Racing 2021's Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Frangipani {Ger}, by Jukebox Jury {Ire}) pitched his case as one of Germany's leading Classic contenders for 2023 in Sunday's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne. Settled in mid-division early by Rene Piechulek, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 14-5 shot stayed in his group of three racing away from the remainder. Drifting left in the straight to join the others towards the stand's rail, the bay had the lead approaching the...

Germany gets ready to crown its leading 2-year-old on Sunday, with Cologne's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten aiming to do exactly that; to unveil the ante-post Deutsches Derby favourite to keep the purists warm during the cold months. Sarah Steinberg saddles Liberty Racing 2021's exciting Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who starred on debut over seven furlongs at Munich Sept. 12, while Gestut Ebbesloh's Peter Schiergen-trained Arcandi (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) shares a similar profile having scored on debut at this mile trip at Hoppegarten Sept. 16. Cometica AG's See...

Newmarket's three-day Cambridgeshire meeting's titular event, the annual nine-furlong cavalry charge boasting a purse of £200,000, is overshadowed by two Group 1 championships on a bumper Saturday of juvenile action at Headquarters and beyond. First of the elite-level heats is the six-furlong G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S., with ante-post markets pointing to an effective match between Coolmore and Westerberg's Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Rockcliffe Stud's homebred Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never). In reality, it is an open edition which also features G2 Lowther S. victrix Swingalong (GB) (Showcasing...

While Sunday's action is a notch or two below that of Saturday, there are two fascinating contests in Germany and Ireland to savour in the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten and the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. In the former at Cologne, Gestut Ittlingen's Antero (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) looks as exciting as any of the line-up following his seven-length maiden win at Dortmund Sept. 19. Gestut Rottgen's Ariolo (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) was second to the filly Mylady (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire} in the Listed Junioren-Preis at Dusseldorf Sept. 12, with...

Stall Lintec's Best of Lips (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) provided Coolmore's first-season sire (by Galileo {Ire}) with his first black-type winner on Sunday when scoring with authority in the prestigious G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne. Having won over nine furlongs at Dortmund Sept. 20, the 14-5 shot was forced to race wide throughout the early stages from his high draw as Franny Norton exercised restraint more than halfway down the field. Sent forward when straightened for home to take command passing the two-furlong pole, the bay galloped on strongly...

GSW Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) could try for Group 1 glory in Germany, once he has had time to recover from his unfortunate passage in the G1 Investec Derby at Epsom. Trainer William Muir has the Preis von Europa at Cologne in mind for his stable star, whose hopes of Classic success were dashed soon after the start on Saturday. "Once he got knocked over that was our race gone," said Muir. "It happened when they cross from one side of the track to the other. He ended up...