GaloppWeekly - April 1/25 (English version)
- Luis Kimmel
- 3. Apr.
- 6 Min. Lesezeit
What happened in the racing world last week? GaloppWeekly takes a look back on everything important happening in Germany and around the world!
Kick-off at Mannheim
First Mannheim, then Cologne. That was the timetable for the past turf weekend in Germany. Fortunately, there were seven races on the card at Mannheim, which is not a matter of course at the small racecourse. Less pleasing is the fact that there will now only be two Mannheim race days left in 2025. One less than last year. AMELY ADVENTURE (Poseidon Adventure) surprisingly opened the day ahead of the hot favourite LISAC (Lord Of England). The latter had started as the 1.4 favourite and did not exactly have the race on his side, having to go around all his opponents in the final turn in fourth lane. Not an ideal situation to make up a lot of ground on the already short Mannheim straight.
The victory went to Amely Adventure under Bertrand Flandrin, who scored another win in the last race of the day on NERIAN (Soldier Hollow).
Anna van den Troost also won twice on STEPNEY CAUSEWAY (New Approach) and ARDBRACCAN (Lawman), both trained by Christian Freiherr von der Recke. Sibylle Vogt won the sixth race on WAHRSAGER (Nutan), giving von der Recke his third win of the day.
The main race of the day was won, how could it be otherwise, by the cult galloper of the year WOODY WOOD (Maxios). Andreas Suborics' protégé already presented himself in a blended manner in the parade ring and ultimately left nothing to be desired. „Woody" already won the "Badenia" in Mannheim last year.
Can LIPS VEGA really stay?
Anyone who watched LIPS VEGA (Lope De Vega) in the parade ring at her debut at Baden-Baden last year saw a very nervous animal. This has not exactly changed at her next start either. However, this did not stop the well-bred Lope De Vega daughter from running fast. She put in an impressive performance at Cologne on Sunday in a very good field. In the end, she put seven lengths between herself and second-placed SORCERESS (Belardo). Third place went to the Frankel-daughter HELLO SWEETHEART. The filly from Gestüt Fährhof had a very good debut and will probably also compete in Black type races sooner or later.
Lips Vega will now continue in the G3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann - Schwarzgold-Rennen. This is another race over the mile and we don't really trust her to cover much longer distances due to her temperament. The Lope De Vega daughter raced at up to 65 km/h over the Cologne track on the far side. On a fast track, however, she will probably be hard to beat by another German filly. Her brother LUCKY LION (High Chaparral) won the G2 German 2000 Guineas and the G1 Dallmayr Preis in 2014. Their dam, LIPS ARROW (Big Shuffle), was a multiple Listed winner and Group 3-placed over sprint distances. Lips Arrow currently has a two-year-old by SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross). In 2025 she gave birth to a filly by TORQUATOR TASSO (Adlerflug).
Who stops Liberty Racing?
Until a few weeks ago, Liberty Racing had in NEW ENGLAND (Brametot), one of the favourites for the G1 IDEE 156th German Derby, in the stable. The latter was injured and will now be out until the autumn. Is the dream of the Derby over? Quite the opposite! The Liberty Racing colt AQUAMAN (Cracksman) prevailed against seasoned opponents at his debut on Sunday at Cologne! Among them was DELGARDO (Best Solution), who finished a close second in a Listed race last year behind the aforementioned New England. The successful syndicate currently has six more colt in the Derby. ANTINORI (Adlerflug) and ZAUBERKÖNIG (Teofilo) were already seen on the track last year. DIAMOND SPIRIT (Waldgeist) has been entered for a maiden race at Mülheim next Saturday.
We took a look at all horses with entries for the German Derby and present our current top 12 in the Derby Dutzend.
It should be noted that the current list was compiled BEFORE the raceday at Cologne. That's why you won't find Aquaman in the first edition of the Derby Dozen.
Aquaman is now heading to the G3 Bavarian Classic at Munich. Liberty Racing's FANTASTIC MOON (Sea The Moon) finished third in this race in 2023.
Derby favorite back on winning ways
What a finale to the first Blacktype race of the year. Around 8,500 spectators watched the Grand Prix Aufgalopp (L) at Cologne. In the end, the favourite WINTERTRAUM (Lord Of England) prevailed in the main race of the day, which was run over 2400 metres. Wintertraum won by just a neck under Slovakian jockey Michal Abik.
For a long time, the outsider VAISSEAU FANTOME (Kallisto) seemed to win the race by surprise, but in an impressive final sprint, Wintertraum made a real charge at the last second and overtook in the final gallop. PADRE PALOU (Mastercraftsman) secured third place.
Wintertraum is trained by Waldemar Hickst in Cologne and is owned by Stall Lucky Owner and was the favorite last years G1 German Derby. He finished sixth under Oisin Murphy. The Lord Of England-son will probably next compete in the G2 Sauren Dachfonds-Preis (Carl Jaspers-Preis) and/or the G2 Grosser Preis von Tattersalls (Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft).
Wintertraum, meanwhile, was the first starter from the 2024 German Derby to win a Blacktype race since Hamburg.
Entries closed for Oleander-Rennen and Diana-Trial
G2 54. Oleander-Rennen - 1600 meters - 11 Mai - Hoppegarten
The "German Melbourne Cup" is currently the target for horses such as LORDANO (Adlerflug), whose own-brother LOFT won the 2022 race, PRYDWEN (Camelot), the reigning winner of the G3 WETTSTAR.DE 140th German St Leger or the G1 winner TÜNNES (Guiliani).
The former Derby favourite ALPENJÄGER (Nutan), ALMUDENA (Study Of Man) from the stable of Sir Mark Prescott and last year's runner-up WALDADLER (Adlerflug) have also been entered.
Luis Kimmel: "Luke Corner must surrender his trainer's licence for three years. In addition, there is a fine of, please note, €840,754! Why? Banned substances were found in twelve of his horses. The biggest doping scandal in the history of Irish racing. In Germany, this is probably not a problem. The prize money for the Oleander Rennen, for which Comer is a sponsor, was increased from €100,000 to €130,000 this year. After all, Comer is not represented with any horses in "his" race in 2025. Not even as an owner. Unacceptable.“
G3 Diana-Trial - 2000 metres - 08 June - Hoppegarten
Last year, this very race saw the later G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana - German Oaks winner ERLE (Reliable Man). After what was probably one of the most thrilling finishes of the season, the filly from Gestüt Röttgen only just prevailed.
31 fillies want to emulate Erle this year and have been entered for what is probably the most important Oaks prep race. The defending champions are represented by ARELLA (Reliable Man), who even has a Derby entry. She could meet the sister of FANTASTIC MOON (Sea The Moon). FIRE AND ICE (Masar) is owned by Count and Countess von Stauffenberg, who where narrowly beaten with LADY MARY (Lawman) by Erle last year. Another sister of a superstar was entered: GO FLYING (Adlerflug) is the own-sister of GOLIATH. Of course, the winner of the G3 Preis der Winterkönigin NICORENI (Brametot) should not be missing. From abroad, ALLA STELLA (Study Of Man) from the stables of Sir Mark Prescot and Karl Burke's SERVING WITH STYLE (Mohaather) have been entered.
LOFT over hurdles
Loft (Adlerflug) originally travelled to Australia to take part in the G1 Melbourne Cup. However, the gelding bred by Gestüt Ittlingen never really got going down under. He was not allowed to take part in the 2022 Melbourne Cup due to an injury. he was scratched by the vets just days before the race. Loft has now celebrated a successful debut over hurdles.
With odds of 1.2, his victory at Warrnambool came as no surprise. The seven-year-old gelding prevailed under jockey Tom Ryan. However, flat races could also be on the programme again in the future.
In Germany, Loft won the G2 51st Oleander-Rennen in 2022, among others.
That's it for GaloppWeekly – but it'll be back next week!
Until then, you can take a look at our latest analysis. We worked through every potential runner of the G1 IDEE 156. German Derby and ranked them in our Derby Dozen!
You can also find GaloppDaily on Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / TikTok – follow us so you don't miss anything in the future.
Comments