Cologne Racecourse

Gestut Winterhauch's 2-year-old colt Sea Bay (Ger) (New Bay {GB}) graduated with a one-length win in his Aug. 22 debut over seven furlongs at Hannover, but slipped to fourth when upped to one mile for Dusseldorf's Sept. 12 Listed Junioren Preis in his only other start. He had finished behind the reopposing Ariolo (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Millionaire (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) on stakes bow last time, but overturned that form and found plenty more besides to make Sunday's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten all his own as he took the...

It's been a season like no other for Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud operation and, fresh on the heels of Zaaki (GB)'s cakewalk in Saturday's G1 Underwood S., the Sir Mark Prescott-conditioned 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) made it a quickfire elite-level double for the nursery, sporting her owner-breeder's colours, in Sunday's G1 59th Preis von Europa at Cologne. The February-foaled grey, second in last term's G1 Yorkshire Oaks, was unbeaten in three prior black-type starts this term and lined up as the 11-10 favourite for this latest outing returning...

Stall TMB's Mythico (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) opened this season with a last-of-eight finish in ParisLongchamp's Apr. 11 G3 Prix Noailles before running second to Best of Lips (Ire) (The Gurkha {GB}) in Krefeld's Apr. 24 G3 Dr Busch-Memorial last time and took advantage as that rival floundered in Monday's G2 36th Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) at Cologne to secure Classic glory in game fashion. The March-foaled bay had also finished behind Best of Lips when third in the Rhineland venue's Oct. 11 G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten and closed a four-race...

Darius Racing's Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) was overlooked at 15-1 for Saturday's G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne, but she upped her level with conditions to suit to register a career-best under Clement Lecoeuvre. Impressive when successful in the G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club at the San Siro in October, the bay who had been fourth in Hamburg's G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis over this 12-furlong trip last time July 11 was held up early with one behind. Delivered wide and late to overhaul Kaspar (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}) in the dying...

Sunday's G2 Sparkasse Kolnbonn-Union-Rennen at Cologne was a tactically tricky affair, but it ultimately proved another relatively straightforward task for Stall Wasserfreunde's Wonderful Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) as he continued his march towards emulating his sire in the July 12 G1 Deutsches Derby. Always prominent off the early crawl under Andrasch Starke, the 3-10 favourite loomed wide on the home turn and quickened into the lead from the top of the straight. Ridden out with hands and heels, the chestnut comfortably held Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB})...

Stall Salzburg's Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) ran third behind Rubaiyat (Fr) (Areion {Ger}) and Zavaro (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) in Hoppegarten's May 10 G3 Dr Busch-Memorial and exacted a measure of revenge by outpointing the former in a thrilling tussle to secure Monday's G2 35th Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen - German 2000 Guineas over one mile at Cologne. Settled off the tempo in fourth until encouraged closer once into the home straight, the 5-2 second favourite gained a narrow advantage entering the final furlong and withstood the vain rally of Rubaiyat under a...

Gestut Karlshof's No Limit Credit (Ger) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) entered Sunday's G3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann - Schwarzgold-Rennen with more than a small measure of currency from her 2-year-old days and duly emerged from the Cologne feature with enhanced profitability. Successful by 5 1/2 lengths in Baden-Baden's valuable Ferdinand Leisten-Memorial in October before finishing a distant sixth behind the imperious Wonderful Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) taking on the colts in the G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen at Krefeld in November, the chestnut was always well placed tracking the...

German racing is into its rhythm again and Sunday's G3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann - Schwarzgold-Rennen at Cologne sees the G2 German 1000 Guineas hopefuls put through their paces. Gestut Hony-Hof's Ocean Fantasy (Fr) (Make Believe {GB}) is back from her winter slumber, having capped her 2-year-old season with success in Baden-Baden's G3 Preis der Winterkonigin in October. There is every reason that her short-head defeat of Tickle Me Green (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) is solid form, with that rival running third in Monday's G3 Prix de la Grotte...