Press release
Image: Egina; www.marcruehl.com / Use of this image is free of charge in connection with reporting on Baden Galopp
The festival weeks for De Vries and Park Wiedingen continue – with Egina
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, May 29, 2025 (MH) – Jockey Adrie de Vries and the Park Wiedingen Stud are currently enjoying a truly spectacular run of success. On Thursday, the first day of the spring meet at the racetrack in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, the top jockey from the Netherlands and the highly successful breeder and owner (Park Wiedingen Stud) jointly won the main race of the program, the Baden-Baden Hotel and Restaurant Industry Prize—with the four-year-old Soldier Hollow daughter Egina.
Her victory was, of course, anything but a surprise, as she had already dominated the competition in a similar race in Hanover. So her status as the 1.6-to-1 favorite in the seven-horse field was more than justified.
All attacks were blocked
Running in fourth place on the inside, Adrie de Vries was always in an ideal position, even though he had to find some room briefly on the home stretch; there, Egina surged forward from a prime position and also fended off what looked like a strong late charge from North Reliance.
“It’s crazy what’s happening right now. That’s why I’m enjoying it, because things can quickly take a completely different turn,” De Vries explained. “Actually, I took the lead way too early, because then Egina caught up a bit, but in the end she was the better rider.”
“Adrie rode Egina with a great deal of confidence. She now has two entries in Hamburg,” reported trainer Peter Schiergen, whose horses are in top form. Helmut von Finck added: “I chose this race because I wanted to give Egina an easier test. She’s a superb mare. Now we’re off to Hamburg for the Group race.”
North Reliance, who finished second and was the only horse to keep up, also put in a strong performance in her season debut. “She ran out of steam a bit 200 meters from the finish, but thanks to her class, she kept going. She’ll continue to improve,” said jockey Thore Hammer-Hansen. The gap to Partnun in third place was more pronounced. Tanami Starlet, representing Iffezheim, lost fourth place to Sweet Summer in the final stretch.
Time and again, the “Flying Dutchman”
Adrie de Vries, the “Flying Dutchman,” set the tone right from the start of the meet, winning the first two races. First, riding Gestüt Park Wiedingen’s novice Dragon Magic (3.2:1) for Mülheim-based trainer Yasmin Almenräder, he secured victory in a 1,400-meter race against Warren Hill and Against All Odds. “She’s a true miler and a candidate for auction races,” reported the trainer, for whom things are also going brilliantly at the moment.
Just over half an hour later, Adrie de Vries also guided Royal Emerther (3.9:1)—a track specialist trained in the Netherlands by Christian Wolters—to an easy victory in a 1,000-meter Class III race, finishing ahead of Wonderful World and Master Franca.
Adrie de Vries’ hunger for victory was not yet satisfied, however, as he later secured his fourth win in a 1,800-meter Class III race with the completely dominant mare Royal Spirit (2.4:1). It was also the second victory for trainer Peter Schiergen.
In the day’s first four-horse race (Class IV, 1,000 m), the saying that age is no barrier to victory proved true when the 11-year-old veteran Glicourt (4.6:1), ridden by Thore Hammer-Hansen for Gijs Snijders of the Netherlands, finished ahead of Movento, Californiagoldrush, and Tommorah in the 152nd The four-horse bet paid out at 1,447.8:1 euros.
Trainer Yasmin Almenräder also scored an early double thanks to Nairo (5.2:1), who, under Nina Baltromei, managed to move up from last place in a 2,800-meter handicap race. Rocky, Dortmunder, and Stella Marina rounded out the four-horse parlay at odds of 1,581.3:1 euros.
Northern Olympian: A Horse with a Bright Future
Like a horse with a bright future, Northern Olympian (4.4:1)—trained by Andreas Wöhler for UNIA Racing—secured victory in the 2,000-meter Class II handicap. After a long layoff following his placing in a 2024 Derby trial at Hoppegarten, he easily took the lead in Munich. The young Tomas Roman set the pace from the front throughout the race, dominating the field against Tramina and Macun.
Another up-and-coming jockey joined Andrea Ricupa on the podium after the final 2,000-meter race, having ridden Katja Gernreich’s Nordstream (12.4:1) to a dominant start-to-finish victory. It was clear early on that the long shot would defend his lead against Sanafi Zabeel, Master of Light, and Attention Rocket. The four-horse parlay payout climbed to 920.2:1 euros. The V4 parlay payout was 1,428.5:1 euros.
For the first time, Volksbank pur is sponsoring the Spring Meeting Championship. The top jockey and trainer will each receive 300 euros.
Betting turnover for the nine races totaled 608,829.26 euros. The big Children’s and Family Day also featured a widely acclaimed mascot race.
Next race day on Saturday
The spring meet continues on Saturday (May 31) with eight races centered around the Japan Racing Association Derby Trial (Group III, 55,000 euros, 2,000 meters). The first race starts at 1:30 p.m.
2025 Baden Galopp Race Schedule
Spring Meeting:
Thursday, May 29
Saturday, May 31
Sunday, June 1
Big week:
Saturday, August 30
Sunday, August 31
Wednesday, September 3
Saturday, September 6
Sunday, September 7
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 17
Sunday, October 19
----------
Andre Lott
Press contact
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
www.badengalopp.de
