Image: Alsterperle; www.marcruehl.com / Use of the 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:
Coronation day for the Röttgen-based Alsterperle in the Carla Kellner Future Race - Prize of the Winter Queen
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, October 19, 2025 (MH) - Most visitors on the final Sunday of the Sales & Racing Festival at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim had expected an English victory in the top highlight, but the German national anthem was played after the most important race for two-year-old fillies: The Reliable Man-daughter Alsterperle, trained by ex-jockey Maxim Pecheur in Cologne-Heumar for Gestüt Röttgen, pulled off the feat of defeating the English top favorite Sea The Storm in the Carla Kellner Zukunftsrennen - Preis der Winterkönigin (Group III, 155,000 euros, 1,600 m). As in 2024, the race was supported by horse owner Rainer Kellner and named after his granddaughter Carla Kellner.
Seidl again and again
Under jockey Martin Seidl, who had already won the test in 2018 with Whispering Angel and in 2022 with Quantanamera, it was the first career win for Alsterperle, who had already been placed in a Listed race in Cologne and now competed in the eight-strong field at odds of 7.5:1 euros, at the fifth start.
Alsterperle found an ideal race in second place behind Valzeina. Seidl secured the outside lane for her early on in the straight, whereupon this pairing quickly gained a clear advantage, which did not diminish until the finish and amounted to one and three-quarter lengths in the end. Certainly a much-wanted win for the Röttgen stud team around trainer Maxim Pecheur in a season that was not exactly easy, after winning the Henkel - Preis der Diana with Erle in 2024 in the former jockey's first training season.
English favorite finishes second
Sea The Storm, who was bet down to 1.8:1, was always in front, had to go a bit wide on the outside, but still snatched second place from Valzeina, who bravely kept going. Deia's Delight took a clear fourth place ahead of Love My Life, Isfana, Fantastic Fox and Iffezheim's Lady Madame Magic, who had been restrained after a clear disturbance at the start of the straight.
VOICES:
Martin Seidl (jockey of Alsterperle): "We always had guts on the mare since the beginning of the year and were sure that she would win big races one day. Today we had a perfect race. She is a real racehorse."
Maxim Pecheur (trainer of Alsterperle): "It was quite surprising that she had not yet won a race despite her strong working performances. But her form had been upgraded. Alsterperle is a pure galloper. She came into the front line early from the inner starting box and broke clear early."
James Johnson (Sea The Storm assistant coach): "She ran very well and had her best scenes the further it went. I think she will also favor further paths next year."
Henk Grewe (coach of Valzeina): "That was a very promising performance. She hadn't been that convincing in the work, and we were also afraid because of the soft ground. She will probably now go into the winter break."
Sarah Steinberg (trainer of Deia's Delight): "Fourth place is of course a bit ungrateful, but the performance was good. In the end, she lacked a bit of substance on this course. But we are satisfied."
Dates of the Baden Galopp 2026 racing events
Spring Meeting:
Thursday, June 4
Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7
Big week:
Saturday, August 29
Sunday, August 30
Wednesday, September 2
Saturday, September 5
Sunday, September 6
Sales & Racing Festival:
Friday, October 16
Sunday, October 18
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Andre Lott
Press contact
Baden Galopp GmbH & Co. KG
Rennbahnstr. 16
76473 Iffezheim
Tel: +49 1736755151
www.badengalopp.de
