By Sean Cronin
Gestut Rottgen homebred and four-race maiden Alsterperle (Reliable Man), who was last seen running second in the Listed Winterkonigin Trial at Cologne three weeks ago, made the breakthrough with a first win of any kind in Sunday's G3 Carla Kellner Zukunftsrennen Preis der Winterkonigin at Baden-Baden. Last year's renewal was annexed by subsequent G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Nicoreni (Brametot).
“Winning the Winterkonigin is something very special indeed,” commented winning trainer Maxim Pecheur after registering a first victory in Germany's premier event for juvenile distaffers. “Alsterperle will now take her winter break and we are already looking forward to next season.”
It was a third success in the race for jockey Martin Seidl, who saluted aboard Whispering Angel in 2018 and Quantanamera in 2022. “We have always held Alsterperle in high esteem, but she was on a low for some time,” he explained. “The trainer has never lost faith and has always thought the very best of her. Her last performance was really good and now she has lived up to expectations. She is a filly of quality and always has been.”
Inching forward to stalk the pace in second after the opening exchanges, the 13-2 chance cruised to the fore at the top of the home straight and was ridden out inside the final quarter-mile to comfortably outpoint British challenger Sea The Storm (Sea The Stars) by 1 3/4 lengths.
Carla Kellner Zukunftsrennen – Preis der Winterkönigin (GR3) over 1600m at Baden-Baden🏆
2yo fillies – Group Race – 155.000€
🥇ALSTERPERLE by RELIABLE MAN
🥈SEA THE STORM by SEA THE STARS
🥉VALZEINA by PERSIAN KING🎩Gestüt Röttgen
📌Maxim Pecheur
🏇🏿Martin Seidl
🏠Gestüt… pic.twitter.com/TA6ZUwanil— Deutscher Galopp (@DeutscherGalopp) October 19, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Alsterperle, who becomes the 19th pattern-race winner for her sire, is the first of three foals out of a winning half-sister to G2 Diana-Trial victrix Akribie (Reliable Man) and G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen second Ariolo (Reliable Man). The March-foaled homebred's third dam, G3 Hamburger Stutenpreis winner Anna Thea (Turfkonig), produced G2 German 2000 Guineas runner-up and multiple Group-winning sire Aspectus (Spectrum). She is also the ancestress of 15 other stakes winners, including G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern-winning sire Assistent (Sea The Moon), G2 Derby Italiano hero and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin placegetter Ardakan (Reliable Man) and stakes-winning G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud second Willie The Whipper (Whipper). Alsterperle is kin to a yearling colt by Japan and a weanling colt by Millowitsch.
Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
CARLA KELLNER ZUKUNFTSRENNEN – PREIS DER WINTERKONIGIN-G3, €155,000, Baden-Baden, 10-19, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:41.39, sf.
1–ALSTERPERLE (GER) (GER), 128, f, 2, by Reliable Man (GB)
1st Dam: Aktion (GB), by Kallisto (Ger)
2nd Dam: Aussicht (Ger), by Haafhd (GB)
3rd Dam: Anna Thea (Ire), by Turfkonig (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Gestut Rottgen; T-Maxim Pecheur; J-Martin Seidl. €85,000. Lifetime Record: 5-1-3-1, €95,250. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sea The Storm (Fr), 128, f, 2, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Madhyana (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€110,000 Ylg '24 ARAUG). O-Tars Farms Equestrian Stud; B-Thomas Bretzger & Sunderland Holding Inc; T-David Menuisier. €31,000.
3–Valzeina (Swi), 128, f, 2, Persian King (Ire)–Vertana (Ire), by Sinndar (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€20,000 Ylg '24 BBAGS). O-RB-/Rosenstein Racing; B-Gestut Sohrenhof; T-Henk Grewe. €20,500.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, HF. Odds: 6.50, 0.80, 8.10.
Also Ran: Deia's Delight (Ire), Love My Life (Fr), Isfana (Ger), Fantastic Fox (Ger), Madame Magic (Fr).
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