German Oaks in visitors' sights

New Paper

3 days ago

Contrary to the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen run in Munich last Sunday, the Preis der Diana has lived up better to that German cliche of an impregnable fortress.
In 166 runnings of the Dusseldorf Group 1 filly 2,200m race also known as the German Oaks, only two overseas horses have cracked the stronghold, both from their Anglo-Saxon cousins in England, William Haggas with Dancing Rain in 2011 and John Gosden with Miss Yoda in 2020.
On the other hand, the other Group 1 event over 2,000m - also referred to as the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis - has been easier pickings for international raiders in the last quarter of its 159-year-long history, with Godolphin's Tornado Alert the eighth to wrest the trophy away in the last decade, on July 27.
On Aug 3, the foreign invasion will be led by only two horses, hailing from the two usual suspects Coolmore and Godolphin - Garden Of Eden and Spirited Style.
A three-pronged attack on the €500,000 ($743,000) feature was on the cards until a lone entry from France, Kiamba for Chantilly-based Italian trainer Mario Baratti, was scratched.
Quantity from abroad has again gone missing, but the remaining duo still ooze quality.
Despite the away team's poor record, Spirited Style and Garden Of Eden head the markets at 7-4 and 15-8 respectively.
Even when outnumbered, the two powerhouses are forces never to be sneezed at wherever in the world they deploy their squads.
A bred-in-the-purple daughter of Sea The Stars out of Godolphin's multiple-Group 1 winner Wild Illusion, the Charlie Appleby-trained Spirited Style has already won two races from three starts, the latest coming at her first shot at "black type" events, in the Listed Aphrodite Stakes (2,400m) at Newmarket on July 19.
With William Buick up and from gate No. 1, Spirited Style has every chance of giving Godolphin a second German Group 1 silverware in one week (Tornado Alert is trained by Saeed bin Suroor), but Aidan O'Brien is just as bullish about Garden Of Eden despite drawing awkwardly in barrier No. 12.
The Irish-bred Saxon Warrior filly was particularly impressive under Ryan Moore - who stays on for the German trip - at her last outing, quickening away to a 3¼-length win in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes (2,400m) at Royal Ascot on June 19.
O'Brien had nothing but positive reports for the three-time winner ahead of her 10th assignment, but first outside Britain.
"Garden Of Eden is in very good form for Sunday. Everything went well with her in her work since Ascot," said the Ballydoyle master.
"We think the trip will suit her well, and hopefully the ground won't be too slow."
But it is the home ground advantage that may well be the main adversity to overcome if facts and figures are anything to go by.
Leading local trainer Peter Schiergen holds three tickets with three-time Group 3 winner Santagada (6-1) regarded as the better of the trio, who also include Nicoreni (14-1) and Winnyzja (20-1).
"Santagada is the choice of our stable jockey Andrasch Starke. She's a three-time Group 3 winner," said Schiergen's son and assistant trainer Vinzenz.
"Last time she won a Group 3 over the mile. She's getting up in trip.
"But her pedigree shows she should handle the distance, and also from the feeling she gave in training, she should stay the trip.
"She should have a very good chance on Sunday."
The other top pick from Deutsche Mannschaft is Lady Charlotte (10-1) from the yard of Andreas Wohler of Silvano (2001 Singapore Cup winner) fame.
The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer (Protectionist in 2014) advised caution to those who are hastily writing off the Golden Horn filly after her disappointing ninth in the Group 1 German Derby (2,400m) under Adrie de Vries in Hamburg on July 6.
The Dutch jockey retains the ride.
"Lady Charlotte has taken the Derby really well. She didn't have the best run because of the bloody draw (16)," he said point-blank.
"Now she has a better draw (six) and hopefully, she has a better run around."
Wohler also fields Raposa (16-1), a rare progeny of Frankel in Germany, and a debut winner for Panamanian-born jockey Eduardo Pedroza, who stays on.
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