Who's The Bos?

The highlight of Hamburg's week-long festivities, Sunday's G1 Deutches Derby sees Christian Sprengel trainee Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}) lay his unbeaten record on the line and bid to justify favouritism, and provide a first for his trainer, in this 147th edition of Germany's Blue Riband. Successful at Hannover in his only juvenile start last August, he reappeared with a wide-margin conditions win at Hoppegarten Mar. 27, and continued on a steep upward trajectory with further victories in the Listed Derby-Trial back at Hannover May 16 and in the June 19 G2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen at Cologne, the leading domestic trial for this race, last time. The opposition is led by Susan Magnier colourbearer Landofhopeandglory (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who bids to become just the second international winner of the contest returning off a career high in the June 26 G2 Curragh Cup. Yet to strike in six attempts at stakes level, he again has Ryan Moore in the plate for an Aidan O'Brien team hitting top gear right now. Stall Salzburg's Wai Key Star (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), representing the formidable Andreas Wohler/Eddy Pedroza partnership, has risen swiftly through the ranks since a debut defeat at Hoppegarten in April, and goes postward off a May 16 Hannover maiden score and an impressive takedown of the May 28 G3 Ittlingen Derby Trial at Baden-Baden. Gestut Rottgen's El Loco (Ger) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was chief victim there, as he was behind Boscaccio in the Union-Rennen, and continued a run of four runner-up finishes since breaking through in his Dusseldorf debut last October. For good measure, the homebred bay also played the bridesmaid's role in Krefeld's Nov. 11 G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen and Apr. 24 G3 Dr Busch Memorial. He represents the Markus Klug stable responsible for 'TDN Rising Star' and runaway 2014 winner Sea the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), as does Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who followed up his Mar. 26 Dusseldorf graduation with thirds to Boscaccio in the May 16 Listed Derby-Trial at Hannover and June 19 G2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen at Cologne.