Image: Penalty; www.marcruehl.com / Use of this image is free of charge in connection with reporting on Baden Galopp
PRESS RELEASE
Big Week from August 24 - September 01, 2024 in Baden-Baden - Iffezheim:
Converted the penalty: Impressive victory in the 91st Brunner-Oettingen race
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, September 01, 2024 (MH) - The penalty has been converted: The eponymous son of world-class galloper Frankel dominated Sunday's meeting of the mile stars in the 91st Brunner-Oettingen Rennen (Group II, €70,000, 1,600 m) on the final day of the Grosse Woche at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim. The three-year-old, trained by Henk Grewe in Cologne for Eckhard Sauren (President of the Cologne Racing Association and Vice President of 1.FC Cologne), dominated the competition at will in the end.
Under Thore Hammer-Hansen, the leader of the current jockey statistics, the 3.2:1 co-favorite sped away from his five rivals by three and three-quarter lengths in the middle of the home straight in the manner of an exceptional horse. He thus took revenge for his weaker performance in the recent Dallmayr Grand Prix over 2,000 meters in Munich. The reward was a prize of 40,000 euros and his third career win in his sixth start.
The French guest and top favorite Elamaz was unable to follow on the outside after a strong moment, but narrowly won the place of honor against Geography and See Hector, who had been leading for a long time and also stayed on well. Best Lightning and Armira were unable to get involved in the decision.
VOTES:
Thore Hammer-Hansen (jockey of Penalty): "He is the most talented horse I have ever been involved with. My thanks go to the entire team around trainer Henk Grewe and owner Eckhard Sauren, who have placed so much trust in me."
Henk Grewe (trainer of Penalty and See Hector): "Last time out in Munich, the distance was too long and the pace wasn't perfect. Thore did a great job today and Penalty was now a completely different horse. He could continue in a Group II race at the Arc weekend in Paris. I am also very happy with See Hector. He will continue in Italy or in Düsseldorf."
Eckhard Sauren (owner of Penalty): "That was a 100 kilo performance. In Munich, the distance and the pace were not right for Penalty. With a good pace in the race, everything was different now. The way he pulled away was amazing."
Rene Piechulek (jockey of Elamaz): "We had a perfect race, but the better horse won."
Peter Schiergen (trainer of Geography): "He didn't really switch off at the front, but we are satisfied with a third place in a Group II race. He was too hard-working at the start. We are heading for a 1,400 meter race in Cologne next."
Andreas Suborics (trainer of Best Lightning): "It was a bumpy race for him. But he ran out his mark again. We are now going to Düsseldorf."
The final day began with a surprising success for the track specialist Leon (9.1), sent by Werner Glanz from Munich, who, after a great ride by Adrie de Vries, beat the local hero Dhangadhi and Woody Wood in a 1,800 meter equalizer II start-finish.
Dr. Christoph Berglar's Alvorada (3.5:1) is likely to have a bright future ahead of her, as the three-year-old sent out by Waldemar Hickst in a 2,200 meter test lived up to her high expectations under Rene Piechulek ahead of Mathayl and Silvaplana.
Schael returns to winning ways
Seventh win in his twelfth start - after a short break, Schael, the family horse of Cologne trainer Peter Schiergen, returned to winning ways when he held off Iffezheim representative Quarantini as well as Pericolo (owned by Martin Kronimus) and Dorazio with a great final offensive in the 2,400 meter level III. The four-horse bet brought 2,688.9:1 euros.
In the first of the five World Pool races, the finish photo showed a minimal lead for Donna Helma (5.3:1) from the Mülheim quarters of Yasmin Almenräder. Nina Baltromei and Volker Käufling's mare just managed to get past the local representative Direct Hit and Ready to Rumble.
Rider Nina Baltromei and trainer Yasmin Almenräder seemed to be unleashed on this day, as they later even completed a triple with Nakota and Adjö.
The outsiders dominated the HKJC World Pool Handicap (€25,000, 2,400 m) when Imaran (10.3:1), ridden by Sibylle Vogt for trainer Dr. Andreas Bolte, narrowly edged out Saludos and Goin'.
Firmly in Dutch hands
The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup (Group II, 40,000 euros, 1,600 m) for Arabian thoroughbreds was firmly in Dutch hands, as El Paso T (6.2:1) with Kobe Vanderbeke and Lightning Thunder were the top two finishers ahead of the French favorite Djafar from Holland.
Betting turnover in the twelve races amounted to EUR 1,446,358.62 (turnover in Germany and abroad excluding the World Pool). In the five races of the World Pool, a total sum of around 12.1 million euros was achieved. A total betting turnover of EUR 3,760,557.83 was achieved during the Big Week.
Sales & Racing Festival in October
Iffezheim is already looking forward to the final meeting of the year, the Sales & Racing Festival from October 18 to 20.
Further dates for Baden Galopp 2024 racing events
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 18
Sunday, October 20
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Andre Lott
Contact Press
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
