With all the key focus on Royal Ascot next week, Sunday's European action is on the light side with Cologne staging the feature in the G2 Sparkasse KolnBonn Union-Rennen for the Deutsches Derby hopefuls. A prestigious race in its own right, the 11-furlong contest has been won by the likes of Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), Sea the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Laccario (Ger) (Scalo {GB}) in recent years and it remains to be seen whether any of the 11 going to post this time can make it anywhere near that league. Gestut Auenquelle's Virginia Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) will be popular, having finished runner-up in the G3 Bavarian Classic at Munich May 1, while Stall Lintec's Apr. 24 G3 Dr Busch-Memorial winner and May 24 G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen third Best of Lips (Ire) (The Gurkha {GB}) will also have his fans despite moving up markedly in trip.
At ParisLongchamp, the G3 La Coupe sees Godolphin's Mar. 27 G1 Dubai World Cup third Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) take on Bertrand Milliere's impressive May 8 Listed Prix Bedel scorer Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) and Team Valor International, Andre Brakha and Anant Singh's Hurricane Dream (Fr) (Hurricane Cat) who enjoyed a confidence-boosting success in a 10 1/2-furlong conditions event at Saint-Cloud last time Apr. 28. Also on the card, The Aga Khan's 'TDN Rising Star' Dolia (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) takes in the Listed Prix Volterra over a mile. Successful on debut over this course and distance May 20, the daughter of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic heroine Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) encounters the Wertheimers' Goldistyle (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is a daughter of Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) off the mark at Chantilly May 7.
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