As the latest German-trained horse to accomplish something significant on the international scene, Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) bids for a surprisingly-absent group 1 win on native soil in Sunday's Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten.
Now that his 2014 G1 Melbourne Cup-winning exploits are the stuff of history, Australian Bloodstock Stable's bay has to get back to the top and he looked more than ready for that ascent when winning Hamburg's G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis over this trip last time July 3. Third on that occasion was Stall Ullmann's Guignol (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}), but he has over seven lengths to make up on Protectionist from that run and considering he had previously been just over two-lengths fourth in the June 5 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly it gives an idea of the standard that the favourite reached in Hamburg.
Offering the most significant threat to the Wohler runner is Stall Nizza's 2015 G1 Preis von Europa heroine and G1 Preis der Diana and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden runner-up Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), but her latest fourth in the G2 Lancashire Oaks over this trip at Haydock July 2 suggests she has something to find to win this.
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