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PRESS RELEASE
Big Week from August 24 - September 01, 2024 in Baden-Baden - Iffezheim:
English mare Topanga tops the WACKENHUT Fillies Cup
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, August 31, 2024 (MH) - The Great Week 2024 at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim is also a highly successful week for top English trainer Andrew Balding. Just a few days after triumphing with Al Shabab Storm in the Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche, the Berkshire-based coach also landed a success in the WACKENHUT Fillies Cup (Listed race, €25,000, 1,400 m) on Saturday with the three-year-old mare Topanga, who is also owned by him.
The 3:1 favorite always had a favorable position from an inside starting gate and easily overtook her rivals in the final straight. Jockey Adrie de Vries had secured the Siyouni daughter's third career win, worth 15,000 euros, early on.
"Topanga is a really good horse. The side-blinds have had a very positive effect in the last two starts. The trainer was a bit worried about the dried ground, but she had no problems with it. We had a good position and the job was done early," said jockey Adrie de Vries.
Satisfaction among the winning teams too
Atlanta City ran the expected strong race in second place. "She was no match for the winner, but that was still good," said trainer Stefan Richter. Wild Perfection, who took the lead early on, also stayed on well to finish third. "She more than deserved that. We changed her tactics and had her ride more offensively. We are very happy with the result," assured her handler Sarah Steinberg. Vinnare did very well in fourth place in this competition and completed the four-horse bet, which brought 2,496.3:1 euros.
Sorceress on winter queen course
An important test for the BBAG Preis der Winterkönigin at the Sales & Racing Festival in October was the Gestüt Etzean Winterkönigin Trial (10,000 euros, 1,600 m). Here, Sorceress (3.1:1), ridden by Peter Schiergen for Gestüt Schlenderhan, narrowly won a thrilling battle against Lips Vega, who was already thought to be safe. Bauyrzhan Murzabayev managed to turn the tide on the Belardo-daughter against her strong debuting rival. "She has great talent, everything worked out perfectly today," said the winning jockey.
Hammer-Hansen again and again
A successful start was half the battle for Circuskind (8.6:1) in the opening 1,200-meter level III, as the mare from Frank Fuhrmann's stable ended a long dry spell under Thore Hammer-Hansen when she came close against Casall. Hammer-Hansen later followed up with Dominik Moser's Macun (3.1:1) in a 2,0000 meter level III.
Even a break since October could not stop the Lopez family's horse: Mister Wonderful (13:1) spurted to victory against Ally McMagic and Kalia with enormous reserves under Miguel Lopez in the colors of his sister Celina.
Asterix writes another success story
Jockey Andrasch Starke had to wait a long time for his first meeting win, but it finally happened with the 9.5:1 outsider Asterix in the 1,600 meter level II, when Pavel Vovcenko's protégé safely fended off the local hero Russian Sochi and the favorite Daydream Express, who received even less attention at the Toto.
For Esther Ruth Weißmeier, the day is likely to remain unforgettable, as the Iffezheim-based rider achieved her second victory of the day in the final 1,600-metre Amazon ride (level IV) after scoring with Zarqana (in level III for her mother Regine as trainer) on the 10;1 outsider World Two Times for Martin Bach from Bexbach. Behind the confident winner, Aguna, Picnic En Ville and Winterweide completed the four-horse betting, which paid 5,242.4:1. The V4 bet paid 5779.80:1 euros.
The betting turnover in the nine races on Saturday amounted to 666,533.34 euros.
Crowning finale on Sunday
Tomorrow, Sunday, September 1, will be the crowning finale of the Grand Prix week with the top race day around the WETTSTAR.de - 154th Grand Prix of Baden (Group I, 300,000 euros, 2,400 m). Twelve races will be run on the final day.
Dates racing events Baden Galopp 2024
Big week:
Saturday, 24 August
Sunday, August 25
Wednesday, August 28
Saturday, August 31
Sunday, 01 September
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
