Gestut Rottgen

Former European stallion Reliable Man has died in New Zealand, GaloppOnline reported on Thursday. The G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning son of Dalakhani was 18. Gestut Rottgen's Frank Dorff told the publication, "This morning we received the sad news from New Zealand about the death of the stallion Reliable Man. He had to be operated on, unfortunately he had to be euthanized as a result of complications after the operation." Bred by N. P. Bloodstock, the grey would win his first three starts in succession as a three-year-old, culminating in...

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...

Any week which included the return of Kyprios (Ire) should be considered a good week indeed. Yes, this time of the year is really all about exciting maiden winners and Classic trials, but any horse who can stick around in the Flat pack for as long as Kyprios has done must be cherished.  Four members of the final crop of his sire Galileo (Ire) have entries in the Derby and/or Irish Derby, but otherwise we will be relying on his older runners, including last year's St Leger one-two Illinois (Ire)...

Gestut Rottgen hosted its annual stallion parade on Saturday, with those on show including two new recruits to the German stallion ranks in Assistent (Ger) and Fantastic Moon (Ger), both sons of the German champion sire Sea The Moon (Ger). The well-attended event also featured a lecture from the renowned veterinarian Dr. Monica Venner. Assistent, who won the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern on his final career start at Munich in November, is one of three stallions on the Gestut Rottgen roster, along with proven sire Iquitos (Ger) and G1...

While stallion viewings on the ITM Irish Stallion Trail and La Route des Etalons plus the chance of viewing stallions at Newmarket was underway this past week, Gestut Schlenderhan's stallion base at Zieverich in their hometown of Bergheim hosted the eighth edition of its own stallion show. In the crispy cold, but beautifully sunny weather, the visitors flocked to the location to be greeted by coffee and cake plus a warm soup and a raffle which made €3,000 to be donated to a children's hospice. The four stallions on display...

Eckhard Sauren's ultra consistent Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Anna Kalla {Ger}, by Kallisto {Ger}), who finished in the top four in five prior Group 1 contests, gained compensation for his second in last year's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern with a late surge for glory in this year's renewal at Munich. The Henk Grewe trainee, who tuned up for this with a 3 1/4-length tally in last month's G3 Herbst-Trophy at Baden-Baden, employed patient tactics and was anchored in rear until well beyond halfway. Coming under pressure on...

At the risk of making anyone who knows me choke on their cornflakes upon reading this, I'm rather enjoying the big sprint races this year. The rivalry between Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) now stands at honours even, though it was hard not to feel that Asfoora was a little hard done by when Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) edged left just at the moment the Australian was launching her challenge down the stands' side in the G2 King...

Flying the flag for Germany on Sunday, Gestut Rottgen's G3 Diana-Trial winner Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}--Kizingo {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) made the most of her favourable inside draw and her abundant ability to make all in Dusseldorf's G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana. Always happy navigating the tight circuit under Martin Seidl, the Maxim Pecheur-trained 6-1 shot turned it on from the top of the straight and was soon beyond recall. At the line, the homebred had a length to spare over the closing Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), with...

The unforgettably named Thore Hammer-Hansen bade farewell to British racing at the end of last season to take up a retainer with leading German owner Eckhard Sauren. On Sunday he will go to post for the G1 Deutsches Derby as the leading rider in the country.  In many respects it was a homecoming for the young jockey, who was born in Cologne and spent some of his formative years in Baden-Baden, where his Danish-born father Lennart was riding and later training. It can also be regarded as a wise move. ...

Gestut Rottgen's homebred 3-year-old filly Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}--Kizingo {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), who ran fourth at Baden-Baden in her one run for the Markus Klug stable last year, broke through for new trainer Maxim Pecheur at Dusseldorf on sophomore return in April and continued on the upgrade with a last-gasp win in Sunday's G3 Diana-Trial at Hoppegarten. Her victory provided trainer with a maiden pattern-race success. The 7-2 chance went forward from the outside gate to stalk the pacesetting New York City (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger})...

As the countdown to the start of the covering season begins, a host of Germany's stallions will be on parade at Gestut Rottgen, in Cologne, on Saturday, January 27. The stud's own line-up of Windstoss (Ger), Millowitsch (Ger) and new recruit Iquitos (Ger) will be joined by visiting sires Best Solution (Ire) and Accon (Ger) from Gestut Lunzen, and Gestut Fahrhof's Alson (Ger). Also in attendance will be Japan (GB), who stands at Gestut Etzean, Destino (Ger) from Gestut Westerberg, Gestut Hof Ittlingen's homebred Neatico (Ger), and Rubaiyat (Ger), who...

German Horse of the Year and established sire Iquitos (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will move to Gestut Rottgen beginning in 2024, the stud announced on Tuesday. Standing for a partnership of Gestut Ammerland, Gestut Graditz and Mulligan Stable, his fee will be €6,000. A multiple Group 1 winner, the son of Irika (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) has already been represented by Group 3 winner Mr Hollywood (Ire), who was second in the G1 Deutsches Derby, and listed winner and group-placed Drawn To Race (Ger) from his first crop of just five foals...