In Swoop

The sales action rolls on to Baden-Baden this Friday for Germany's major yearling auction, the BBAG September Sale. If the talk in the build-up is to be believed then there will be more overseas visitors than ever landing at Karlsruhe airport to make the short journey to the sales grounds and its neighbouring racecourse during a lively week of action in both spheres. They surely can't all be going solely for the excellent eve-of-sale barbecue, featuring the traditional jumbo bratwurst and Elvis impersonator. Far more important than that fun night...

David Futter's Yorton Stud has announced the arrival of Ito (Ger), a Group 1-winning son of the late German champion sire Adlerflug (Ger) and full-brother to German Derby winner In Swoop (Ire). Bred by Gestut Schlenderhan, Ito was himself the champion older horse in Germany in 2015, the year in which he won the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern. His dam is also a Classic winner, the Preis der Diana victrix Iota (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). "We are very excited to have acquired Ito, whose profile speaks for itself," said...

Few people will go through life fortunate enough to say they have had anything to do with a Group 1 winner--fewer still with one who cost just €18,000 as a foal. But back in 2018, when not many were in a hurry to get behind the little-known Adlerflug (Fr) (In The Wings {GB}), one of the ill-fated sire's most talented sons went through the ring at Arqana for that paltry sum. It was Gerry Burke's eye and pocket who saw something in Alenquer (Ger) long before the horse confirmed himself...

France and Germany share the limelight on Sunday, with the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G1 Deutsches Derby over a mile and a half the twin focus. In the cast assembled for the former event, Gestut Schlenderhan's In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) takes prominence a year on from his victory in the latter. After his success in the Hamburg Classic, the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee proved himself on the international stage by finishing runner-up in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Returning to...

George Boughey, one of the rising stars of the Newmarket training ranks, is set to be represented by a first Classic runner after listed Pretty Polly S. winner Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) was supplemented for Friday's G1 Cazoo Oaks at a cost of £22,500. Owned by the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate, which has already had a Classic place-getter this season in Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Mystery Angel was last seen running fourth to Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. The...

The historic silks of Gestut Schlenderhan have been flying high again in recent seasons and their resurgence will have totemic resonance for devotees of the Thoroughbred breed, particularly in Europe. In 2019, the stud, which is the oldest of its kind in Germany, celebrated its 150th anniversary. Since 1869, Schlenderhan has remained almost exclusively under the ownership of the same family, its current owner Baron Georg von Ullmann being the great great-grandson of the stud's founder Eduard von Oppenheim. It was in von Ullmann's own colours that the stud's great...

Last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth S. winner The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was third on seasonal debut in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc on Apr. 3, will stay in France for Saturday's G2 Prix du Muguet rather than crossing the English Channel for the G1 Lockinge S. on May 15 on account of the complications of travel during the pandemic. "Everything is fine with the horse, it is just at the moment the ground is pretty dry everywhere, and it is so complicated to travel for the staff and...

It's Craven week, followed by Greenham weekend, both coming on the back of some interesting Classic trials in Ireland and France. It is, as some people prefer to say in midwinter, the most wonderful time of the year.  There's no doubt, however, that the biggest racing story of the year has already happened. However much she wants to play down the gender card, Rachael Blackmore winning the Grand National aboard Minella Times (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) was huge. In fact, Saturday was a big day on both sides for the world...

In Moment of 2020, the staff of TDN Europe reflect on their favourite moments in racing for the year. In 2019, both Gestut Schlenderhan and the Deutsches Derby celebrated 150th anniversaries. Schlenderhan, Germany's oldest Thoroughbred stud farm, has enjoyed much success throughout the world and is the leading owner when it comes to its home Derby. That record was extended this year when In Swoop (Ger) became the 19th winner of the race to be owned and bred by the Von Ullmann family, a result made all the sweeter by...

Stall Wasserfreunde's domestic star Wonderful Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) was eclipsed, but Gestut Schlenderhan's homebred In Swoop (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) stepped into the spotlight with a battling success in Sunday's G1 Idee 151st Deutsches Derby at Hamburg, with the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee becoming France's first winner of Germany's Blue Riband. Employing patient tactics in rear off the tempo set by habitual frontrunner Kellahen (Ger) (Wiesenpfad {Fr}) for the most part, the 137-10 chance was under stern urging turning for home and kept on relentlessly for continued rousting in...