Image: Loucas; 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:
Nobody knocks over the Loucas - 100,000 euro payday for Ittlingen ace in the Ferdinand Leisten Memorial
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, October 17, 2025 (MH) - Worthy winner of 100,000 euros in prize money in Germany's most valuable two-year-old race on Friday at the start of the Sales & Racing Festival in front of 3.700 spectators at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim: The Best Solution-son Loucas, trained by Waldemar Hickst in Cologne for the Ittlingen stud of furniture entrepreneur Manfred Ostermann, won the Ferdinand Leisten-Memorial - BBAG Auction Race (200,000 euros, 1,400 m) in impressive style as a heavily underestimated 12:1 outsider. The memorial for the unforgotten functionary, auctioneer, owner and breeder Ferdinand Leisten, who died in 1995, became a triumphal procession for the stallion, who was not sold as a yearling here at the BBAG.
Under Andrasch Starke, Loucas, after a race from the front after an early advance, kept on building up new reserves against the English favorite Bella Lyra, who followed up very well, Avyaan, who never gave in at the front, and the highly rated Nardos. In the end, Loucas, who had also finished second in a Listed race in Hanover after his Krefeld debut, was one and a quarter lengths ahead.
Greatly underestimated at the Toto
"I didn't understand at all why Loucas was so underestimated at the tote, because his form had been greatly enhanced in the Winter Favorite's Prize. He is now going into the winter break and we are very optimistic for next year," said owner and breeder Manfred Ostermann.
Jockey Andrasch Starke commented: "We had a good position straight away. I waited briefly for a gap on the straight, then the inside lane was clear and Loucas pulled away straight away. In the last 200 meters, he looked at the video screen a bit, but won easily. The best horses were in front."
Trainer Waldemar Hickst added: "Andrasch Starke gave him a super race. Loucas had already run well in Hanover. I told the owner that he should bet his horse."
English favorite in second place
Bella Lyra was defeated in all honors, even Avyaan in third place (trainer Andreas Wöhler: "He showed a lot of morale with this weight") held up very well. Nardos, in fourth place, seemed to achieve more for a long time. "With a better starting number, we would have finished third," believed coach Henk Grewe. Behind him, the gap to Coco Soleil in fifth place was already clear. Endorphin, who was prepared by Gerald Geisler in Iffezheim, was not able to finish higher than second last.
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
