Image: Magical Hope; 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:
French dominance in the Coolmore Stud Baden-Baden Cup - Louvre in the footsteps of the siblings
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, August 28, 2024 (MH) - Horses from abroad have been the measure of all things in many of the top races at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim during the Great Week so far. Two mares from France also dominated the Coolmore Stud Baden-Baden Cup (Listed race, €25,000, 1,800 m), sponsored by one of the world's leading breeding facilities in Ireland: Magical Hope (3.2:1), prepared in Beaupreau by Henri-Alex Pantall for the Godolphin stable of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed, not unexpectedly secured the €15,000 winner's purse ahead of her compatriot Bubble Sign.
When the steadily improving Magical Hope, a daughter of the galloping world star Frankel, scored for the third time in a row, jockey Adrie de Vries defended a neck lead against the approaching Bubble Sign after an early advance in the straight.
High speed ideal
"There was a lot of speed in the race, which suited us very well. We were in front a little early, but it was enough," said a delighted Adrie de Vries after the career highlight so far for the three-year-old horse he steered.
Bubble Sign got stronger and stronger and might even have made it a little further. "A very good performance at this level, she ran a great race," assured her handler Mikel Delzangles.
The favorite New York City briefly had the lead on the home stretch, but was no longer able to counter the attacks of the competition. Third place was nevertheless a respectable performance. Trainer Sarah Steinberg: "Elastic ground would have suited her better, but she performs consistently and will still be able to win a race like this."
Mandatory role models
With his half-brothers Loft and Lordano, who are both Group II winners, the three-year-old Lord of England-son Louvre has very obliging role models. A similar career seems inevitable, as the style of the second career winner in only his third start was breathtaking. In the Prize of the BBAG Yearling Auction 2024 (€52,000, 2,400 m), which will once again be Germany's top horse auction of the year on Friday, the 3.3:1 co-favorite ran effortlessly away from the equally heavily bet Argentum from one of the last places. Jockey Rene Piechulek rode the protégé of successful Mülheim trainer Marcel Weiß with enormous confidence, ordered him all the way to the outside and ignited the turbo there. Louvre easily snatched the €25,000 winner's prize by a length and a quarter. He had remained in his breeder's possession at the BBAG, which Manfred Ostermann from Ittlingen Stud must have been pleased about: "He showed incredible speed," said the furniture entrepreneur.
"My biggest guts of the meeting"
Coach Marcel Weiß added: "He was my biggest guts of the meeting. Louvre did not disappoint me. He was ridden with a lot of confidence, showed a fascinating final sprint and should have a good future ahead of him."
Argentum ran very well in second place, especially as he had to carry considerably more weight than Louvre. "We are very satisfied, because I think we only lost to a group horse," explained Lars Wilhelm Baumgarten from Liberty Racing.
From the top, True and Quick defended third place against De La Luna, who had always been in the mix. There was little to see of the highly rated Olympia.
Favorite win at the start
Fourth in the Henkel - Preis der Diana, Night of Laki's (2.5:1), trained by Andreas Wöhler, was ahead of the competition early on in the opening 2,800 meter race under Eduardo Pedroza. Apparently, the test was the right test for a start in the WETTSTAR.de - German St. Leger in Dortmund.
Great debut from Northern Monarch for Conny Whitfield
Northern Monarch (9.4:1) presented himself as if transformed at the first start for Iffezheim trainer Conny Whitfield in a 2,400 meter equalizer III, dominating his opponents from start to finish with Hugo Boutin. Zoey, Azamastan and Arturo completed the foursome that paid 875.9-1 euros.
The second four-horse race was also won by the outsider, the already nine-year-old gelding Tabularasa (17.4:1), who repeated his recent success with Alina Schubert in a 1,800-meter handicap and got the better of Cherub Rock, Alianne and Abayyah. The four-way bet brought in 2,845.1:1 euros.
Vogt and Schiergen in the fast lane
On a great day for Cologne-based trainer Peter Schiergen and Germany's best female race rider Sibylle Vogt, the three-year-old Narokan (2.5:1) was not about to lag behind and held on to a safe advantage against Kosakenzipfel and Lips Prince in the level I (20,000 euros, 2,200 m). A review by the race organizers left the original result unchanged. This meant that Sibylle Vogt's third win of the day and Peter Schiergen's second victory were perfect.
The final 1,400 meter handicap was another Amazons' hit when Melina Ehm guided the serial winner Steve Blake (7.5:1) to his fourth success at the fifth start. The finishing post was exactly right when the seven-year-old, prepared by Dr. Rüdiger Stein-Schomburg in Bargfeld-Stegen, scored another coup against Palimera, Chili Valentino (Sofie Hammer-Hansen finished a strong third in her first ride) and Repute. The four-horse betting odds amounted to 4,525:1 euros.
Betting turnover in the ten races amounted to 489,405.13 euros, an increase of six percent compared to 2023.
Next race day on Saturday
The Great Week will continue on Saturday, August 31, with the Ladies Day. The T. v. Zastrow Stutenpreis (Group II, 70,000 euros, 2,400 m) will take center stage.
Dates of race events Baden Galopp 2024
Big week:
Saturday, August 24
Sunday, August 25
Wednesday, August 28
Saturday, August 31
Sunday, September 01
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 18
Sunday, October 20
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Andre Lott
Press contact
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
