Picture: Wonder Boy; www.marcruehl.com / Use of this image is free of charge in connection with reporting on Baden Galopp
Press release
Sales & Racing Festival from October 17-19, 2025 in Baden-Baden - Iffezheim:
Double victory for Benjamin Marie and Peter Schiergen - home success for Karoly Kerekes at the start of the Sales & Racing Festival
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, October 17, 2025 (MH) - He had traveled all the way from France, and the trip to Iffezheim was well worth it. French jockey Benjamin Marie was in absolute top form on the opening Friday of the Sales & Racing Festival at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim. First, the 23-year-old newcomer secured a 1,800 meter handicap with Adelaide for Iffezheim trainer Karoly Kerekes with the 10.9:1 outsider Adelaide. Here, Minuet, Morindoo and Comedy La Vega completed the four-horse bet, which was not hit, however, so there will be a jackpot at the 2026 Spring Meeting. Benjamin Marie was later also the partner of three-year-old Wonder Boy, who was an early winner at odds of 6.5:1 in the 1,600-meter level II ahead of Leon and Done Decision. The score also meant win number two on the day for trainer Peter Schiergen.
Arctica Spirit (M. Malacova, 3.8:1), trained by Peter Schiergen, scored a well-deserved first career win in the opening 1,600 meter race when she easily relegated the outsiders Loup d'Argent and Mabel to second place.
Karisoke again and again
The Adelresort galloper Karisoke (3:1) is currently on a terrific winning streak. The nine-year-old scored his fourth win in a row in the 1,400 meter level III. His speed was decisive in bringing Grey Sparkle and Cyanea to their knees. Adrie de Vries, who will most likely end his jockey career in Germany in the near future, gave the veteran everything he needed.
Emotional moments
The success of Bosporus (4.6:1) from Sascha Smrczek's stables in Düsseldorf provided some emotional moments, as the gelding, who won his first 1,800 meter test, belongs to Scuderia Veni Vidi Vici owned by Robin Weber, to whom best wishes for his recovery after his serious fall in Honzrath. Thore Hammer-Hansen, who turned 26 today, was in the saddle on Bosporus.
Gabriele Gaul's Erling from Gordan Batistic's stables almost won a 2,400-metre race at home, but Adina (3.6:1), ridden by Yasmin Almenräder from Mülheim, was a touch stronger under Anna van den Troost. Third place went to Minuty, a mare from Gerald Geisler's Iffezheim stable.
Joy at coffee king Albert Darboven
Hamburg's coffee king Albert Darboven seems to have a barely fully recognized horse in his ranks with Royal Ito (3.7:1), as the gelding offered by Andreas Wöhler was comfortably ahead of Mister Wonderful, Wazlaw and Wilddieb in a 2,400-metre equalizer III despite an interference at the start of the home straight under Eduardo Pedroza. The four-horse bet brought 3,504.4:1 euros. The V4 bet was hit once and paid 10,000:1 euros.
The betting turnover in the eight races on Friday amounted to 358,762.81 euros, of which 161,171 euros came from the track betting.
Big season finale on Sunday
The big 2025 season finale at Baden-Baden-Iffezheim racecourse is scheduled for Sunday with the final day of the Sales & Racing Festival. The Carla Kellner Zukunftsrennen - Preis der Winterkönigin and the B.A.U. Herbst Trophy are two group races at the heart of the nine races. The first race starts at 11:15 am.
Dates of race events Baden Galopp 2025
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 17
Sunday, October 19
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Andre Lott
Press contact
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
www.badengalopp.de
