Gestut Auenquelle

A day after his daughter Tamfana (Ger) was beaten just a length in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, leading German sire Soldier Hollow (GB) has died at the age of 24. The stallion's death was announced on social media by his owner Helmut von Finck of Gestut Park Wiedingen. He said, "Soldier Hollow the horse of my life...You were my hero, my life and infinitely more. Rest in peace, I'm lost for words today but I'll carry you in my heart forever." Bred in England by Car Colston Hall Stud,...

Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Tijuana {Ger}, by Toylsome {GB}), the 2021 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero, has been retired from racing. As previously announced, the chestnut will stand at Gestut Auenquelle. Connections had originally been mulling a start in the G1 Japan Cup, but opted to retire the Marcel Weiss runner. Weiss confirmed: "We are grateful that he enjoyed such an outstanding career and that he has come back safe and sound. We always said he would retire if he ran well. "Frankie could not go forward too...

This season we appear to have been gifted an above average crop of 3-year-olds, along with some truly exciting older horses who have remained in training. It is as it should be, but things don't always work out that way.  France and England exchanged Group 1 races at the weekend: on Saturday it was a case of veni, vidi, vici for Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), who gave France a first victory in the race since 1960, when it was won by the Percy Carter-trained Javelot (Fr) (Fast Fox {Fr}). The...

Last term's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Tijuana {Ger}, by Toylsome {GB}) could manage only sixth when contesting Baden-Baden's May 29 G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft on seasonal return last time and bounced back in style to claim a second straight edition of Saturday's G2 wettstar.de Grosser Hansa-Preis at Hamburg. The 13-10 favourite raced third passing the judge first time and remained in that slot for the most part. Sent forward on the turn to go second into the home straight, he drifted...

Third in last year's G1 Wettstar Grosser Preis von Baden, Gestut Auenquelle's Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was on top this time as he mastered the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) in a pulsating finale to Sunday's contest. Sent off the 9-5 favourite, the 2020 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin hero who was runner-up in the most recent renewal of that Hoppegarten prize last time Aug. 8 raced in fourth early with Rene Piechulek content to wait off the steady pace. Delivered to tackle Godolphin's Passion and...

The German breeding industry was dealt a blow this week with the death of 17-year-old Adlerflug (Ger). In 2020, the Gestüt Schlenderhan stallion wrested the German sires' championship from another son of In The Wings (GB), Soldier Hollow (GB), who was runner-up and who had the highest number of winners overall. Soldier Hollow had previously been champion sire in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Adlerflug, whose grandam Alya (Ger) (Lombard {Ger}) was a sister to Allegretta (GB), the dam of Urban Sea (Miswaki), hails directly from the family of Galileo (Ire)...

Gestut Auenquelle's Virginia Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), a full-brother to Saturday's €975,000 Arqana Arc Sale topper Virginia Joy (Ger), registered a narrow debut verdict tackling 8 1/2 furlongs at Dusseldorf on Sunday. 1st-Dusseldorf, €5,100, Mdn, 10-4, 2yo, 8 1/2fT, 1:46.43, g/s. VIRGINIA STORM (GER) (c, 2, Soldier Hollow {GB}--Virginia Sun {Ger} {Hwt. Older Mare-Ger at 14f+ & GSW-Ger}, by Doyen {Ire}) was allowed time to find a comfortable rhythm and raced in a prominent second for most of this debut. Rowed along at the top of the straight, the...

Dual Classic producer Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}-Well Known {Ger}, by Konigsstuhl {Ger}), dam of consecutive G1 German Derby winners in Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), will visit Soldier Hollow this spring, Racing Post reported. Soldier Hollow holds court at Gestut Auenquelle for €30,000 in 2020. The Gestut Rottgen homebred is currently in foal to Sea The Stars (Ire). A half-sister to G1 Preis von Europa hero Well Made (Ger) (Mondrian {Ger}), the winning 12-year-old produced her Derby winners as her first and second foals, and...