G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana

Flying the flag for Germany on Sunday, Gestut Rottgen's G3 Diana-Trial winner Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}--Kizingo {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) made the most of her favourable inside draw and her abundant ability to make all in Dusseldorf's G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana. Always happy navigating the tight circuit under Martin Seidl, the Maxim Pecheur-trained 6-1 shot turned it on from the top of the straight and was soon beyond recall. At the line, the homebred had a length to spare over the closing Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), with...

Sunday's G1 165th Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks) at Dusseldorf went the way of Stall Golden Goal's G3 Hamburg Stuten-Meile scorer Muskoka (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Morning Mist {Ger}, by Peintre Celebre) as she mastered Kassada (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the 11-furlong Classic staged in heavy rain. Stepping up in trip having won at a mile, the Henk Grewe trainee was reserved early in mid division by Lukas Delozier with stamina unproven. Reeling in Kassada in the last 100 metres, the 5-1 shot asserted to score by a...

Always talented but frustratingly for King Power Racing just below what is required at the top level in his native England, Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has made successful overseas raids his main business and the travel-hungry sprinter is a notable first-timer at Deauville on Sunday for the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Five trips to Ireland have resulted in a 100% win record, with The Curragh's G2 Greenlands S. and G2 Sapphire S. among this year's tally so it will be fascinating to see if his debut outing...

There was an upset in Sunday's G1 Henkel Preis der Diana at Dusseldorf as Kerrin McEvoy steered the 16-1 shot Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}) to an all-the-way win for Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett's Australian Bloodstock Stable. Successful in the Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis over a mile here May 14, the chestnut had joined Andreas Wohler from the Marian Falk Weissmeier stable following her latest third in the 10-furlong G3 Diana Trial at Hoppegarten June 5. Always comfortable setting the fractions on the front end at this sharp turning circuit, she...

Gestut Etzean's unbeaten 3-year-old filly Palmas (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}) posted a half-length success in her May 16 debut going one mile at Hannover and doubled her tally when upped to 10 1/2 furlongs for Dusseldorf's June 19 Listed Diana-Trial in her only other start. Sent postward as the 9-2 second favourite back over the same strip for Sunday's 163rd Henkel Preis der Diana - German Oaks, she simply outclassed her rivals to win by daylight for a career high. The homebred bay maintained a rail berth through the...

Sunday's G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana at Dusseldorf offers the usual puzzle, with Dr. Christoph Berglar's Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), who was taken out of the G1 Prix de Diane due to her wide draw, possibly the standard-setter in the German Oaks. Successful in Hoppegarten's G2 Diana Trial May 23, the chestnut beat Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) by 3/4 of a length on that occasion before finishing runner-up in the 11-furlong G3 Mehl-Mulhens-Trophy at Hamburg July 4. First and second in this track's Listed Diana-Trial June 19, Palmas (Ger)...