Image: Rashford; www.marcruehl.com / Use of this 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:
Rashford shocks the competition in the B.A.U. Autumn Trophy
Baden-Baden-Iffezheim, October 19, 2025 (MH) - Big surprise in the last group race of 2025 at the season finale in front of 8.500 spectators at the racecourse in Baden-Baden-Iffezheim on Sunday: The five-year-old stallion Rashford, trained by Marian Falk Weißmeier in Krefeld, managed a late turnaround against the mare Nastaria in the Herbst Trophy (Group III, €55,000, 2,400 m) sponsored for the first time by Mannheim-based B.A.U. GmbH and ridden by Englishman Jack Mitchell.
Coming to racing via Begum Aga Khan
After somewhat mixed performances recently in France, Rashford celebrated his first goal of the season at odds of 13.7:1, which was rewarded with 32,000 euros in prize money. The owner is the Swiss Friedrich Hodel, who only arrived at the track for the finish of the race due to a train failure. Interesting fact: the real estate agent had found his way to racing via Begum Aga Khan. "She had rented an apartment from me," explained the owner after his greatest triumph to date in turf.
A very exciting duel developed between Rashford and Nastaria on the home straight, with much in the mare's favor for a short time, but Jack Mitchell elicited the greater reserves from Rashford on the final stretch and gained a head start. Nastaria was defeated in all honors. Only she was able to follow the winner, as the two highly rated Lordano (third) and Delgardo (fifth) failed to move on from a good position. The outsider Name Lord slipped between the two in fourth place. Tanami Starlet, the Iffezheim representative from Gerald Geisler's stable, had the lead on the way but had to be satisfied with sixth place in the end.
VOICES:
Jack Mitchell (Rashford's jockey): "He showed good form in France in the spring. The distance was right. He tackled very strongly and passed his opponent."
Marian Falk Weißmeier (Rashford's coach): "We have rarely encountered the preferred soft ground this year. He had an infection at the last start. Today he showed his true colors. He has a nomination for the Bavarian Grand Prix, the alternative is the Grand Prix de Nantes, which he won last year."
Friedrich Hodel (breeder and owner of Rashford): "I came from Switzerland by train from Klosters, but due to a train breakdown I only made it to the racecourse for the last hundred meters of the race. That was just in time. I certainly won't have a horse like Rashford again. I got into racing through Begum Aga Khan, who once rented an apartment from me."
Volker Franz Schleusner (owner of Nastaria): "She ran very strongly again and almost won. Nastaria will remain in training next year."
Marcel Weiß (Lordano's coach): "He was in a good position, but unfortunately didn't follow through."
BBAG purchase Mystic Charly makes a convincing debut
Hans Bierkämper from Mandarin Stables paid 55,000 euros for the stallion Mystic Charly at the 2024 BBAG Yearling Auction, and he appears to be a very successful investment. The Circus Maximus son, bred by Gestüt Fährhof Foundation and Flaxman Stables, landed a convincing win in a 1,800-meter race on his very first outing under Eduardo Pedroza.
Mystic Charly (4.6:1) confidently cleared the outsiders Worrington and Dastan. "He should get a start so that he learns everything. I had thought he would still need this race. Now he's going into the winter break," said trainer Andreas Wöhler.
Atoso returns to winning ways
Atoso, trained by Sarka Schütz in Hoppegarten, finally returned to winning ways. The gelding had a much easier time in a €25,000 level I race over 2,000 meters than in the recent group races. Michaela Malacova gave the 10.2:1 outsider a perfect start to finish and fended off the strong final offensive of Vaisseau Fantome, who stormed up after losing the start, behind whom Principe and Lips Prince completed the foursome (odds: €1,333.3:1).
"I rode Atoso for the first time today, but I had the feeling that he likes to do his own racing. He always gave me a good feeling," explained Michaela Malacova, who is becoming more and more popular.
The race day had started with a success for the Dutch Master Stables when the three-year-old filly Jane Garfield (6.5:1) dictated the action in a 1,200 meter level III for trainer Romy van der Meulen with Anna van den Troost. Favorite Crime, who is handled by Fabian Xaver Weißmeier in Iffezheim, finished a strong second ahead of Distor, who was racing for the Gattopardo stable for the first time following his sale at the BBAG Autumn Auction, and Glicourt, who ended his racing career with his 161st start.
Belgian guest Koutsounakos (4:1) lived up to all expectations in a 1,000 meter handicap, as the ten-year-old from Sofie Lanslots' quarters in Geel saved a minimal advantage over Lady Lovebug with Sina Schmidt. Heaven's On Fire and Nero Imperator completed the four-horse betting which brought 1,078.6:1 euros.
Kerekes sensation with Raagi
Start-to-finish was also the winning tactic in a 1,400 meter test, which surprisingly went to the 28.2:1 outsider Raagi, trained by Karoly Kerekes in Iffezheim, who narrowly fended off Planteur's Whiskey and My Universe with Senan Macredmond. Former group winner Maigret was on the retreat early on.
Senan Macredmond, who had only returned to action in Iffezheim after his injury break, celebrated another success in a 2,200-meter level III, a race for the Mehl-Mülhens Young Talent Prize - with Northern Eclipse (3.3:1), who had changed hands to Kurt Fekonja at the BBAG Autumn Auction.
Rider Anna van den Troost had a great meeting, because after a victory on Friday and success in the introductory test on Sunday, she also took the final 2,400 meter level IV with Nicosia (8.3), saddled by Christian von der Recke for Eugen-Andreas Wahler, ahead of Adjö, Dortmunder and Limbo Dancer. Here the four-horse bet climbed to 2,651.2:1 euros. The V4 bet was not hit, so there will be a jackpot in 2026.
The betting turnover in the nine races on Sunday amounted to 522,431.26 euros. Of this, 252,024 euros came from track betting.
Spring meeting from June 4, 2026
After the winter break, Baden Galopp 2026 will kick off the next racing year with the Spring Meeting. Three race days will be held from June 4 to 7. In total, the coming season in Iffezheim will once again include ten racing events. The race dates can be found at the end of this press release.
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
