GaloppWeekly - March 2/25
- Luis Kimmel
- 13. März
- 4 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!
Andrasch Starke in Japan
In 2023, Andrasch Starke became Jockey Champion in Germany for the tenth time. A basic requirement to receive one of the highly coveted short-term licenses from the Japan Racing Association. Starke already used a license from September to November 2024 and is now due to make his next guest appearance in the Land of the Rising Sun.
On March 5, the JRA announced that Andrasch will once again receive a short-term jockey license. This means that the most successful German jockey of all time will be able to compete in Japan from March 9 to June 8.
"It's only been three months since I was last in Japan, but I'm happy to be here again. Everyone was very nice to me last time. I enjoyed the fall and am looking forward to the beautiful Japanese season in the spring," Starke told Tospo-Keiba.
Andrasch did not have to wait long for his first victory. In the second race Sinday at Hanshin, he won a maiden race on CHUWA CHIEF (Tom's D'Etat). Purse: just under €66,000. T O STEIN (World Ace) also came second later in the day.
Andrasch Starke has won 96 times in Japan so far - four times at Group 1 level. The 100th win is therefore within reach.
Group winner at Dortmund
"It's as full today as it was on a group race day," says Oliver Sauer, Managing Director of Dortmund racecourse. "The market attracts many new visitors. The symbiosis is excellent. People don't get in each other's way and many people stay here. And the atmosphere is great!" We are of course talking about the race day last Sunday at Dortmund. It was the penultimate winter race day and when you looked at the list of starters on Thursday, you were very surprised to read two names: BEST LIGHTNING (Sidestep) and SHOOTOUT (Areion) were in races for Sunday. It is certainly not a matter of course that Blacktype horses get to run on the Dortmund sand. Both were duly victorious in their starts. Best Lightning from Andreas Suborics' stable took advantage of the 43rd Pries des Dortmunder Boxsport 20/50 to start in the G3 Kalkmann-Frühjahrs-Meile at Düsseldorf in mid-April. The son of Sidestep is no stranger to Dortmund. He won the G3 34. Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft here in 2023, on turf of course.
The half-brother of 2022 Derby winner SAMMARCO (Camelot) presented himself for the first time as a gelding. Shootout from Henk Grewe's stable was able to place at Group 3 level last year. Now he is set to compete in a Listed race at Hanover on May 1st.
The last Dortmund winter race day is already scheduled for Sunday. The winter season ends this year with a "Thailand race day".
A sister for ERLE
Prominent offspring at Gestüt Röttgen. German Oaks winner ERLE (Reliable Man) now has a little sister by IQUITOS (Adlerflug). The dam of the two, KIZINGO (Oasis Dream), will next visit the Arc champion TORQUATOR TASSO (Adlerflug).
Erle's now three-year-old sister ELEGANZ (Adlerflug) cost €300,000 at BBAG in 2023 and is in training with Andre Fabre. She was entered for the G1 Prix de Diane and is owned by Imad Alsagar.
Erle herself stays in training in 2025 and could make her seasonal debut in the G2 Prix Corrida in May.
GHORGAN in Hongkong
In September 2024, Group 2-placed GHORGAN (Study Of Man), trained by Andreas Wöhler for Darius Racing, was sold to Hong Kong via Holger Faust's HFTB Racing Agency.
Now he had his first run in a race last Sunday. Until then, he had only completed a few barrier trials. On Sunday he started in the last race of the Sha Tin card, a Class 3 handicap over 1609 meters. After a rather unfortunate race, the ex-German, who was bred by Gestüt Fährhof, had to give in quickly in the home straight. In the end, he crossed the line in last place.
Ghorgan placed in the G3 Premio Parioli Hid - Italian 2000 Guineas and the German equivalent for Darius Racing in 2024. This was followed by a victory in a BBAG auction race during the Derby Week in Hamburg and a second place in the G2 Prix Daphnis in Deauville.
The Study Of Man son is trained in Hong Kong by Jamie Richards.
That's it for GaloppWeekly – but it'll be back next week!
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