Polish Vulcano

The early part of last week was spent covering the JRHA Select Sale in Japan, a trip that is always illuminating, to an auction that remains extraordinary. Number one of the list of most surprising things from the five days spent in Hokkaido was Teruya Yoshida picking up his guitar to serenade guests with a rendition of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads. An excellent choice of song, well performed. The Shadai Farm principal should be encouraged to form a Travelling Wilburys-style bloodstock supergroup. Bluegrass enthusiast and songwriter Arthur...

For Hamburg resident Albert Darboven, every Derby day is special, not least because for the last 16 years his family's coffee trading company JJ Darboven has sponsored the German Classic. But the businessman has also tasted success at the highest level as the owner-breeder of the 1992 winner Pik Koenig (Koenigsstuhl), and last Sunday another chapter was added to his storied association with the Deutsches Derby when Darboven's homebred stallion Polish Vulcano was responsible for this year's winner Hochkoenig. "It was incredible to witness Hochkoenig's victory live on Sunday and...

Unbridled joy was present in bundles at Hamburg on Sunday as recent amateur-turned-apprentice Nina Baltromei urged Hochkoenig to victory on the line in the 156th Deutsches Derby, denying the Karl Burke-trained Convergent (Fascinating Rock) by the merest of margins. Hochkoenig is by the Lomitas stallion Polish Vulcano, who stands at the Darboven family's Gestuet Idee, which sponsors the Derby and is where the 17-year-old was bred. We'll be hearing from the stallion's breeder Albert Darboven in tomorrow's TDN, but for the breeders of Hochkoenig, racing photographers Marc and Gabi Ruehl,...