By Sean Cronin
With the late scratching of Germany's leading marathoner and morning line favourite Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), jockey Rene Piechulek made the switch to Gestut Ittlingen's alternate Alessio (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}–Alandia {Ire}, by Adlerflug {Ger}) and made the most of that ownermate's absence to register a career high in Sunday's G2 Comer Group International 53rd Oleander-Rennen at Hoppegarten.
Alessio, who ran sixth in 2022's G1 Deutsches Derby, notched a first pattern-race win in October's G3 The Land Trophy at Baden-Baden and brought the curtain down on 2023 with a runner-up finish in November's G3 St Leger Italiano at the San Siro in Milan when last seen. He occupied a stalking role in second for most of this two-mile stamina test. Bustled along at the top of the home straight, the 17-5 second choice slipped to third with 300 metres remaining and rallied gamely under a final-furlong drive to collar old rival Waldadler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) by a head on the line. Last term's third Nastaria (GB) (Outstrip {GB}) hit the board once more and finished 3/4-of-a-length adrift of the front two.
In a strange turn of events, Lordano's 11th-hour withdrawal provided Piechulek with the opportunity of replacing rider Sybille Vogt aboard Alessio. Vogt suffered an arm injury during the preliminaries of the first race on the card. “Of course I'm a little sorry for Sibylle [Vogt] that she couldn't make the ride,” the winning jockey told GaloppOnline. “Alessio was very brave today and fought really well to prevail.”
G2 Oleander Rennen goes to Gestüt Ittlingen and ALESSIO (Teofilo) under René Piechulek👏🏼
Piechulek should ride LORDANO – he was scratched
Sibylle Vogt should ride ALESSIO – she got injured in the first today🥈WALDADLER (Adlerflug) – just another second😅
🥉NASTARIA (Outstrip) pic.twitter.com/HTBP6lXk0Y— Luis Kimmel (@Lskmml_) May 19, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Alessio, one of his sire's 65 pattern-race winners, is the third of seven foals and one of two black-type performers produced by a dual-winning half-sister to three stakes winners headed by G1 Prix du Cadran hero and three-time winner of this contest Altano (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}). The March-foaled homebred bay's third dam is G3 Deutscher Stutenpreis-winning G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) runner-up Arastou (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}), who threw G2 Prix de Pomone winner Abitara (Ire) (Rainbow Quest). Abitara's descendants include stakes-winning G3 Mehl Mulhens Trophy third Ability (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the dual Group-placed Areo (GB) (Medicean {GB}). Arastou is also the ancestress of G3 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis victrix and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) third Adoya (Ger) (Doyen {Ire}). Alessio is a full-brother to the unraced 2-year-old filly Alana (Ire) and kin to this month's G3 Bavarian Classic runner-up Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and a weanling colt by Zarak (Fr).
Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany
COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL 53RD OLEANDER-RENNEN-G2, €100,000, Hoppegarten, 5-19, 4yo/up, 16fT, 3:30.70, gd.
1–ALESSIO (GER), 126, h, 5, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Alandia (Ire), by Adlerflug (Ger)
2nd Dam: Alanda (Ger), by Lando (Ger)
3rd Dam: Arastou (Ger), by Surumu (Ger)
O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Peter Schiergen; J-Rene Piechulek. €60,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr & Ity, 11-4-2-3, €142,370. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Waldadler (Ger), 126, g, 5, Adlerflug (Ger)–Waldblume (Ger), by Halling. (€9,000 Ylg '20 BBAGS). O-Stall Kalifornia; B-Gestut Sommerberg (GER); T-Pavel Vovcenko. €21,000.
3–Nastaria (GB), 122, m, 5, Outstrip (GB)–Cinta (GB), by Monsun (Ger). (€8,000 Ylg '20 BBAGS; €15,000 Ylg '20 BBAGO). O/T-Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep; B-Mme Mette Campbell-Andenaes (GB). €11,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 1. Odds: 3.40, 4.20, 13.30.
Also Ran: Assistent (Ger), Crystal Estrella (GB), Seattle Creek (GB), Lotterbov (Ire), Eskimo Komet (Ire). Scratched: Lordano (Ger).
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