Last seen finishing fifth in the G2 Derby Italiano at the Capannelle May 22, Isfahan found something extra to prevail in a nail-biting finale to the premier domestic Classic. Already flagging his talent at two as the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten title-holder, the chestnut was unable to follow his success in Cologne's mile feature when only sixth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November. Back with a clear-cut win in the 10-furlong G3 Bavarian Classic at Munich May 1, he had failed to land a blow as the favourite for Rome's Derby but looked a different proposition on this testing surface.
Settled in mid-division early by Dario Vargiu, Isfahan crept closer on the approach to the home turn and was sent to the front at the top of the straight where he looked likely to be a convincing winner. Hanging fire and letting several rivals glimpse a chance, including the strong-finishing Savoir Vivre who may have headed him in the final yards, he dug in for more and managed to secure a slender winning margin at the line. Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}), the 2-1 favourite, could only finish a well-beaten eighth in a true war of attrition. Isfahan, whose dam has already produced the MGSP Il Divo (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}) and last year's G3 Baden-Wurttemberg-Trophy scorer Incantator, descends from the G1 Aral-Pokal-winning champion Indica, whose sire Athenagoras (Ger) landed this race in 1973. Isfahan's sire Lord of England is now responsible for two Classic winners after breaking through in the category with the 2014 G1 Preis der Diana heroine Feodora (Ger). Independent Miss also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly by Soldier Hollow (GB) named Izzy (Ger) and a 2016 filly by So You Think (NZ) named I Think So (Ger).
Sunday, Hamburg, Germany
IDEE 147th DEUTSCHES DERBY-G1, €650,000, HMB, 7-10, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:45.97, hy.
1–&ISFAHAN (GER), 128, c, 3, by Lord of England (Ger)
1st Dam: Independent Miss (Ger), by Polar Falcon
2nd Dam: Indiaca (Ger), by Sanglamore
3rd Dam: Indica (Ger), by Athenagoras (Ger)
(€35,000 Ylg '14 BBAGS). O-Darius Racing; B-Rennstall Wohler (GER); T-Andreas Wohler; J-Dario Vargiu. €390,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-0-0, €507,300. *1/2 to Incantator (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), GSW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Savoir Vivre (Ire), 128, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Soudaine (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). O/B-Stall Ullmann (IRE); T-Jean-Pierre Carvalho. €130,000.
3–Dschingis Secret (Ger), 128, c, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Divya (Ger), by Platini (Ger). (€200,000 Ylg '14 BBAGS). O-Horst Pudwill; B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €78,000.
Margins: HD, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 15.80, 21.70, 9.30.
Also Ran: Wai Key Star (Ger), Bora Rock (Ire), Our Last Summer (Ire), Berghain (Ire), Boscaccio (Ger), Buzzy (Ger), Nimrod (Ire), El Loco (Ger), Zanini (Ger), Rosenhill (Ire), Noble House (Ger), Larry (Fr), Landin (Ger), Licinius (Ger), Landofhopeandglory (Ire), Parthenius (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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