Gestut Rottgen

Eckhard Sauren's ultra consistent Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Anna Kalla {Ger}, by Kallisto {Ger}), who finished in the top four in five prior Group 1 contests, gained compensation for his second in last year's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern with a late surge for glory in this year's renewal at Munich. The Henk Grewe trainee, who tuned up for this with a 3 1/4-length tally in last month's G3 Herbst-Trophy at Baden-Baden, employed patient tactics and was anchored in rear until well beyond halfway. Coming under pressure on...

At the risk of making anyone who knows me choke on their cornflakes upon reading this, I'm rather enjoying the big sprint races this year. The rivalry between Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) now stands at honours even, though it was hard not to feel that Asfoora was a little hard done by when Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) edged left just at the moment the Australian was launching her challenge down the stands' side in the G2 King...

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...

The unforgettably named Thore Hammer-Hansen bade farewell to British racing at the end of last season to take up a retainer with leading German owner Eckhard Sauren. On Sunday he will go to post for the G1 Deutsches Derby as the leading rider in the country.  In many respects it was a homecoming for the young jockey, who was born in Cologne and spent some of his formative years in Baden-Baden, where his Danish-born father Lennart was riding and later training. It can also be regarded as a wise move. ...

Gestut Rottgen's homebred 3-year-old filly Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}--Kizingo {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), who ran fourth at Baden-Baden in her one run for the Markus Klug stable last year, broke through for new trainer Maxim Pecheur at Dusseldorf on sophomore return in April and continued on the upgrade with a last-gasp win in Sunday's G3 Diana-Trial at Hoppegarten. Her victory provided trainer with a maiden pattern-race success. The 7-2 chance went forward from the outside gate to stalk the pacesetting New York City (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger})...

As the countdown to the start of the covering season begins, a host of Germany's stallions will be on parade at Gestut Rottgen, in Cologne, on Saturday, January 27. The stud's own line-up of Windstoss (Ger), Millowitsch (Ger) and new recruit Iquitos (Ger) will be joined by visiting sires Best Solution (Ire) and Accon (Ger) from Gestut Lunzen, and Gestut Fahrhof's Alson (Ger). Also in attendance will be Japan (GB), who stands at Gestut Etzean, Destino (Ger) from Gestut Westerberg, Gestut Hof Ittlingen's homebred Neatico (Ger), and Rubaiyat (Ger), who...

German Horse of the Year and established sire Iquitos (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will move to Gestut Rottgen beginning in 2024, the stud announced on Tuesday. Standing for a partnership of Gestut Ammerland, Gestut Graditz and Mulligan Stable, his fee will be €6,000. A multiple Group 1 winner, the son of Irika (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) has already been represented by Group 3 winner Mr Hollywood (Ire), who was second in the G1 Deutsches Derby, and listed winner and group-placed Drawn To Race (Ger) from his first crop of just five foals...

Henk Grewe trainee Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Anna Kalla {Ger}, by Kallisto {Ger}) went postward for Sunday's G2 Carl Jaspers Preis at Cologne coming back off a half-length victory in Dusseldorf's Listed Grand Prix Aufgalopp on seasonal return last month and upset G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern victor Tunnes (Ire) (Guiliani {Ire}), G1 Preis der Diana second Wagnis (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Alter Adler (Ger) (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) for a career high in the 12-furlong feature. Last year's G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Preis von...

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...

Gestut Rottgen's homebred 2-year-old colt Aspirant (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}--Aussicht {Ger}, by Haafhd {GB}), who holds an engagement in Krefeld's Nov. 13 G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen, went postward as the 16-5 second choice for Sunday's one-mile Preis der Holschbach Immobilien Gruppe at Dusseldorf and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' after disposing of his rivals in impressive fashion. Aspirant was professional from the gate and broke well to gain a narrow advantage going into the first turn. Comfortable on the lead throughout this debut, he was nudged along at the...

The list of German stallions has been boosted to 38 this year with the addition of three new recruits: one from Ireland, one returning from France, and one who has never left the stud where he was born other than to go to the races.  In the case of Alson (Ger), who is now the sole stallion at the Jacobs family's historic Gestut Fahrhof, his repatriation following a racing career partly based in Chantilly with Andre Fabre is a welcome move. Alson is the only son in Germany of the...

BADEN-BADEN, Germany--There was a dramatic start to the day on the eve of Germany's premier yearling sale at BBAG when a number of agents, vets and consignors were evacuated as the Radisson Blu Badischer Hof Hotel caught fire in the early hours of Thursday morning. Solenn Gouesnard of Haras d'Ombreville was taken to hospital temporarily with smoke inhalation but everyone else escaped unscathed, though many were left without clothes and passports. "We spent all night on the street in pyjamas," said Matt Coleman, who had arrived with a group which...