American Debut for Bavarian Champion Trainer

by J.M. Severni 

Six-time Bavarian champion trainer Wolfgang Figge has traveled the world riding and training
Thoroughbreds, but Saturday will mark his inaugural foray into the American racing scene when Magic Artist (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) lines up in Belmont's GI Knob Creek Manhattan S. The conditioner, who began his racing career as an amateur jockey, apprenticed under legendary German trainer Sven von Mitzlaff in Cologne before taking out his training license in 1976. Figge worked as a freelance trainer until 2006, when Hans-Gerd Wernicke named him head of his Rennpferde Training Center in Munich. 

Wernicke, a native of Freilassing, Germany, dabbled in harness racing in his youth, but had been absent from the track for decades. He established Wenatex sleep systems, a company dedicated “to research, education and the supply of world leading sleep technology” in Salzburg in 1964. Ten years ago, the sirens call was too much and he returned to racing, this time as a Thoroughbred owner. Wernicke currently has about 30 horses in training with Figge, most of which were purchased as yearlings at Arqana, Baden Baden or at English sales. 

Wernicke and Figge typically race in Germany and Italy. “Being in Munich, we're so far from other German tracks, that it's easier for us to run in Italy,” said Harald Schneider, who manages the stable. Over the last decade, Wernicke and Figge have proven to be a successful pair, most notably with 2010 German Horse of the Year Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokov {Ire}). The G1 German Oaks and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden-winning millionaire was “one of the best horses we've had in recent years,” according to Schneider. 

The current stable star, however, is Magic Artist. The 105,000gns Tattersalls October yearling purchase has blossomed into a top runner for Figge and Wernicke. After graduating on debut as a juvenile in Munich, the dark bay was second by a head in Baden-Baden's G3 Zukunfts S. that fall. The next time he returned to the winner's circle was in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic last June. Unplaced in Hamburg's yielding G1 Deutsches Derby July 6, he returned a few weeks later take the fourth spot in the G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen over a yielding Munich course July 27. He dead-heated for second in the yielding G2 Darley Oettingen Rennen S. Sept. 3 and was fourth in San Siro's G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua S. Sept. 28. Magic Artist annexed the G3 Premio Ambrosiano to give him his first Italian score Apr. 19, and was a close runner-up in Capannelle's G1 Premio Presidente della Repubblica S. May 10. 

The connections are confident that Belmont's conditions will compliment the colt. 

“A few months ago, we were looking at what race to run him in next,” Figge said through Schneider. “We picked out this race because we think it will suit him. He really likes firm turf and is good on a left-handed track. We think this spot will fit him well.” 

The team is understandably proud of their operation and of Magic Artist. 

“He's an uncomplicated horse,” Schneider continued. “He travels well and to have such a good horse in a 30-horse stable is an accomplishment for us.” 

Schneider, Figge and the rest of the team are scheduled to arrive at Belmont Friday, though Magic Artist and assistant trainer Terry Hellier appear to have already settled in well in Belmont's quarantine barn. 

Schneider explained the team's excitement for about their American debut, and added, “hopefully, we'll be happy on the ride home from the airport, too.”