Munich under Tornado Alert
The Blue Army - already successful with the likes of Rebel's Romance, Sovereignty, Ruling Court, Trawlerman, Ombudsman, in England and US in 2025 - was at the same time collecting their fifth win in the German time-honoured race popularly known as Grosser Dallmayr-Preis.
Their veteran trainer Saeed bin Suroor is also no stranger to that German silverware, having won the 2001 edition with Kutub - winner of the Singapore Gold Cup the same year - and Benbatl in 2018.
Interestingly, bin Suroor combined with Oisin Murphy on Benbatl, and repeated the feat with the four-time British champion jockey at his third hurrah.
Murphy even began his post-victory interview in German saying "Ich liebe Deutschland" (I love Germany in German), stunning presenter Thorsten Castle, before continuing in English.
"We were uncertain about the ground, but he's by Too Darn Hot, out of a Kingmambo mare," said Murphy.
"He ran very well (sixth) in the Epsom Derby, he was second (Group 3 Hampton Court) at Royal Ascot, and today he came to Munich and he was brilliant."
The light-hearted linguistic moment and momentous win were welcome distractions for Murphy, 29, from his recent drink-drive woes. Convicted of two similar breaches in 2022, he was this time found guilty of driving a car while over the legal alcohol limit last April.
Murphy's car left the road and crashed into a tree in Berkshire, injuring a female passenger.
While the Irish jockey was fined €70,000 and his driving licence was suspended for 20 months, his jockey's licence was spared by the British Horseracing Authority, albeit attached with new conditions, such as enhanced testing.
manyan@sph.com.sg
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