Press release
Image: Lordano; www.marcruehl.com / Use of the image is free of charge in connection with reporting on Baden Galopp
Lordano's thriller triumph the absolute highlight of the Spring Meeting 2025
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, June 02, 2025 (MH) - Three days of top-class racing, a Grand Prix that turned into an absolute thriller and the very best atmosphere in sometimes midsummer temperatures - the Spring Meeting at Baden-Baden racecourse in Iffezheim, which ended on Sunday, was once again a festival of horseracing.
Strong attendance on the three race days
36,600 spectators came to Germany's premium racecourse on the three race days, 15,500 alone on the children's and family day on Ascension Thursday. 9,600 visitors came to Iffezheim on Saturday, 11,500 on the final day. Partly small starting fields and the parallel events in Dortmund and Magdeburg may have contributed to the fact that the betting turnover of 608,829.26 euros on the opening day was not quite on a par with the outstanding 734,818.60 euros of the previous year. On Saturday, turnover increased to 605,421.54 euros (compared to 591,856.19 euros in the previous year), which was mainly due to a clear increase in track turnover. The 723,970.25 euros on the final Sunday were also very pleasing. A total of 1,938,221.05 euros flowed through the cash registers in 27 races.
Excitement right up to the finish line
Of course, the Tattersalls Grand Prix (Group II, 70,000 euros, 2,200 m), which was held for the first time under the patronage of the English auction house Tattersalls and in the tradition of the Baden Business Grand Prix, was the crowning finale on Sunday. The final battle was truly unbeatable in terms of excitement, and not only the spectators on the racecourse experienced a thriller in a class of its own. Until shortly before the finish, the match was a three-way battle in which the winner was almost impossible to predict. In the end, Lordano celebrated a well-deserved victory over Wilko and Queimados for Manfred Ostermann's Ittlingen stud and Mülheim trainer Marcel Weiß with jockey Leon Wolff (21). The Adlerflug son has long been one of the absolute stars of the German Grand Prix scene. A year ago, the now five-time group winner came second in the race that was moved to Cologne. "The race was absolutely perfect for Lordano. He more than deserved this triumph," said Marcel Weiß, who became known worldwide as the coach of 2021 Arc winner Torquator Tasso.
Adrie de Vries of course, who else?
A top sprint stood out in the supporting program on the final day: Adrie de Vries, of course, who else? That's how you could describe the result of the Casino Baden-Baden Silver Whip (Listed race, €25,000, 1,200 m). Because here the "Flying Dutchman" led a guest to victory with Kylian from the English stable of Archie Watson. But the German sprinters also earned good marks in the form of Schützenzauber and Zerostress in second and third place respectively.
Short Final makes short work of it
There were already some great sporting highlights on the opening Thursday. The top event for the milers, the 47th Kronimus Badener Meile (Group III, 55,000 euros, 1,600 m), which was the focus of the celebrations marking 100 years of Kronimus and 40 years of the Iffezheim-based concrete block company's involvement in turf, was held in France. The outsider Short Final from Satoshi Kobayashi's Chantilly stable, ridden by veteran jockey Ioritz Mendizabal, blew away the local elite, while the three-year-old Namaron in second place and the up-and-coming Switsch in third place also put in a very respectable performance.
Helmut von Finck's Gestüt Park Wiedingen is experiencing a veritable festival week, and Egina from Peter Schiergen's successful stable did not show any weakness in the Baden-Badener Hotellerie & Gastronomie Prize (Listed race, €25,000, 2,200 m) as the top favorite under Adrie de Vries. The races on Thursday were followed by an after-race party, where cocktails and music were enjoyed late into the evening.
Also top jeweler for France
The French national anthem was also played on Saturday after the main event, the Japan Racing Association Derby-Trial (Group III, 55,000 euros, 2,000 m). After another masterful ride by Adrie de Vries, Juwelier, who is trained by Alessandro Botti together with his father Guiseppe in Chantilly, saved a wafer-thin lead over the favorite Path of Soldier across the finish line. The surprise was perfect, and a new name for the IDEE 156th German Derby on July 6 in Hamburg was suddenly under discussion.
A dignified farewell
The two-year-old Zuender, who secured the BBAG Badener Jugendpreis (15,000 euros, 1,000 m) with French rider Benjamin Marie in the saddle, seems to have similarly strong youngster genes as his brother Zunder. It was a worthy farewell for trainer Ralf Rohne and breeder Klaus-Peter Keil from Gestüt Keilhof, who will leave Düsseldorf at the end of May and who had sold the stallion to Stall Acidus before the race and is retiring after more than 40 years in racing.
Emotional highlights in the supporting program
An emotional highlight of the spring meeting was the Lotta goes Special Olympics race. With this competition, Baden Galopp supported Lotta Berglund, a young woman who, despite considerable health restrictions that have accompanied her throughout her life, has a big heart for horse racing and now wants to realize her dream of participating in the 2029 Special Olympics World Winter Games in figure skating. To this end, Baden Galopp is transferring 5% of the German betting turnover - rounded up to 3,000 euros - from this race to Lotta's donation account. Of course, Lotta followed "her" race directly on the rails and was also present at the award ceremony.
Another highlight of the supporting program was the parade of ex-gallopers on Sunday. Eight thoroughbreds from 8 to 26 years old presented themselves in the lead ring, some under their riders, some led by their new handlers. It was a sentimental reunion with the 4-legged racecourse heroes of yesteryear, all of whom have found a wonderful place after their active careers.
De Vries and Schiergen in front in the Volksbank pur Meetingschampionat
As already mentioned in his successes in the top races, jockey Adrie de Vries was the dominant performer at the meeting. A sensational eight of the 27 races were won by the likeable Dutchman, who thus won the meeting championship sponsored for the first time by Volksbank pur. A special bonus of 300 euros was his reward. The best trainer with four wins, Peter Schiergen, who has also been riding a wave of success for weeks, was also number one in his division. The Baden-Airpark Media Cup was won by pro-galopp.de.
Tünnes stays in Germany
The Group I winner Tünnes was the biggest draw at the BBAG Spring Auction on the race-free Friday. LAM GmbH paid 75,000 euros for him. Here, stud manager Ralf Kredel acted for Hans-Dieter Lindemeyer. The stallion will remain in Germany and become a sire at Etzean Stud in 2026. 22 of the 34 horses on offer were sold - at an average price of 10,750 euros. The total turnover amounted to 236,500 euros, which, however, can hardly be compared with the results of previous years due to the significantly smaller catalog this time.
Stephan Buchner, Managing Partner of Baden Galopp: "It was a wonderful spring meeting and this year we had the weather luck that we unfortunately lacked in 2024. We saw outstanding sport, great emotions and many happy and satisfied visitors. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this and our great team. We are looking forward to the Big Week."
Big week starts on August 30
Preparations will soon begin for the top racing week of 2025 in Iffezheim, the Great Week with five days of racing from August 30 to September 7.
Further dates for Baden Galopp 2025 racing events
Big week:
Saturday, August 30
Sunday, August 31
Wednesday, September 3
Saturday, September 6
Sunday, September 7
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
