Idee 155th Deutsches Derby (Group 1)

OWNERS Liberty Racing won the German Derby at Hamburg on Sunday for the second year in a row.

Jockey Thore Hammer Hansen landed the first Group 1 victory of his career as he took the prize on Palladium for Cologne trainer Henk Grewe, coming down the stands’ side in the straight and pipping Andrasch Starke’s mount Borna, who was on the far side, by a neck.

The finish was similar to when Fantastic Moon won for the owners last season, with the field fanning out over the width of the straight and the winner finishing under the stands’ rails, the result in doubt until the last strides as Borna raced on the far rail.

The winner had only finished fourth to the well fancied Narrativo in the Derby trial, the Union-Rennen in mid-June. Narrativo was a disappointment here, finishing only 14th of the 18 runners. Oisin Murphy was sixth on favourite Wintertraum.

The winning rider was born in Cologne, his father riding more than 1,000 winners during his career. He spent time with André Fabre in France, before joining Richard Hannon in 2017, and rode 124 winners in Britain, notably landing the Ascot Stakes in 2020 as a 5lb claimer on Coeur De Lion for Alan King.

The winner is a German-bred son of Gleneagles out of French-bred mare Path Wind. The 12-year-old stallion is enjoying a fine year – he is also responsible for dual Derby-placed Ambiente Friendly, Royal Ascot winner Calandagan and York Group 2 winner Mill Stream.

Liberty Racing bought the colt for €80,000 from breeders Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof at the 2022 BBAG September yearlings sale. Grewe was landing his second German Derby in four years having taken the prize in 2021 with Sisfahan.

The Andrew Balding-trained Mina Rashid finished 17th of the 18 runners under Jason Watson.