Cologne

Fresh after a small break, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's Title Role (Too Darn Hot) showed he could handle the heat to take Monday's G2 Coolmore City Of Troy German 2000 Guineas at Cologne. Having beaten Godolphin's subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas third Pacific Avenue and exciting prospect Talk Of New York in Meydan's Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained relative of Courage Mon Ami had been fifth in the G3 Greenham Stakes over an inadequate seven furlongs. Settled against the rail by Sean Levey early,...

One of Francis-Henri Graffard's clutch of top-class geldings, Sibayan (Blame) delivered more Group 1 glory to the stable in Sunday's Preis von Europa at Cologne. Sent off the 2-5 favourite for the 12-furlong feature, having mastered a pair of Group 2 tests in ParisLongchamp's Prix Maurice de Nieuil and the Grand Prix de Deauville, the Aga Khan Studs homebred was made to wait patiently by Mickael Barzalona throughout the early stages. Swooping powerfully inside the final furlong, he surged to the line to record a 2 1/2-length success from the...

Monday, Cologne, Germany, post time: 16:20, SPARKASSE KOLNBONN - 190TH UNION-RENNEN-G2, €70,000, 3yo, 11fT Field: Abando (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Amico (Ger) (Camelot {GB}), Enzian (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), Hochkonig (Ger) (Polish Vulcano {Ger}), Rekabet (Ger) (Ito {Ger}), Sedano (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Zuckerhut (Ger) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: Deutsches Derby dreams either stay alive or die here, with the G3 Bavarian Classic fourth Zuckerhut setting an achievable standard. Eckhard Sauren's Hanover winner Enzian and Stall Grafenberg's clear-cut Lyon-Parilly scorer Sedano appeal as likely types. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the...

Monday, Cologne, Germany, post time: 16:10, SAUREN DACHFONDS PREIS (GERLING-PREIS)-G2, €70,000, 4yo/up, 12fT Field: Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Augustus (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Duraji (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Lion's Head (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Padre Palou (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Rashford (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). TDN Verdict: In an unsual move by Dermot Weld, the veteran supremo pitches the inexperienced Leopardstown maiden winner Duraji against some hardened German campaigners. Late to come on to the scene, the son of his late mother Gita's G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Nightime...

Despite the absence of the King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in Sunday's G1 Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung Preis von Europa, the Cologne feature held up well with the two domestic Classic winners bidding to deny Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) a second edition of the prestigious mile-and-a-half contest. In the event, Godolphin's high-class stalwart was able to ward off all challenges and reproduce his 2022 success for a sixth win at the top level. Last seen finishing best of those who raced near the hot pace...

Bouncing back to form at Cologne on Sunday, last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) registered a first success since the G2 Prix Niel in September in the re-scheduled G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft. Keen early under restraint from Rene Piechulek racing in mid-division, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 4-year-old was delivered in the centre of the track and had a slight edge with a furlong remaining. Asserting from there, the 3-1 second favourite had a neck to spare over the 11-5 market-leader Lordano (Ger)...

Making all under an enterprising ride from Silvestre De Sousa, Clive Washbourn's Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Hairy Rocket {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) took Cologne's G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas back to Britain on Monday. Last year's G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up, who had enjoyed a confidence-boosting win in a Goodwood conditions event earlier this month, was needing the line as Penalty (Ger) (Frankel {GB}) closed in down the centre of the track and it came in time for the David Menuisier-trained colt to prevail by a neck,...

Cologne is the focal point of the next European Classic action on Monday, with the G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas hosting the unbeaten Maigret (Ger) (Counterattack {Aus}) and a pair of British raiders in Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Ten Bob Tony (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). While the former looked the best of his generation at around this trip when winning Krefeld's 8 1/2-furlong G3 Dr Busch-Memorial last month, the foreign contingent have been mixing it in the big time with Ten Bob Tony...

Coolmore is the new sponsor of the G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas, which will be held at Cologne on Monday, May 20, the organisation announced on Tuesday. "German breeders have been great supporters of Coolmore over the years and we have been long-time race sponsors in the country," said Coolmore's Joe Hernon. "We were more than happy to get involved on this occasion." Three of the past 10 renewals of the German Classic have featured winners by Coolmore sires, including the late Zoffany (Ire)'s Knife Edge (Ire)...

Sunday's G1 Preis von Europa was all about the fillies and mares as Gestut Ittlingen's India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Ivory Coast {Fr}, by Peintre Celebre) overcame the Irish challenger Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) to keep the Cologne prize at home. Registering her fourth group win when getting the better of the talented pair Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Allez France in April, the Waldemar Hickst-trained homebred was settled with two behind early by Rene Piechulek. Sent forward at the top...

Sporting the famed Gestut Rottgen silks in Cologne's Preis vom Weidenpescher Park on Sunday, Naila (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) overpowered her peers to become the latest German TDN Rising Star. Sent off the 9-10 favourite for the 1850-metre maiden, the Markus Klug-trained chestnut broke well from the widest stall to track the leading duo throughout the early stages. Taking control approaching the two-furlong marker, she surged clear to win unchallenged by 10 lengths with Andrasch Starke easing down. The winner is the last known foal out of the listed-winning dam Naomia (Ger) (Monsun...

Off the mark on debut over seven furlongs at Munich Sept. 12, Liberty Racing 2021's Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Frangipani {Ger}, by Jukebox Jury {Ire}) pitched his case as one of Germany's leading Classic contenders for 2023 in Sunday's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne. Settled in mid-division early by Rene Piechulek, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 14-5 shot stayed in his group of three racing away from the remainder. Drifting left in the straight to join the others towards the stand's rail, the bay had the lead approaching the...