LONGINES - GROSSER

PREIS VON BADEN

(GROUP 1)

BADEN-Baden’s big meeting is always notable for its strong international element and that was the case again, with the two top races of the week won by French-trained runners, the top two-year-old race by a British runner and the listed stayers’ event by a Czech runner, Trip To Rhodos. The latter, a six-year-old gelding by Rail Link, has been a most consistent performer over the years and is expected to run next in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp on Arc day, in which he finished sixth last year.

Also moving up sharply in grade will be Mark Johnston’s Dessertoflife; the Irish-bred filly made all the running to win the Zukunfts-Rennen easily enough, and the trainer immediately nominated the Group 1 Fillies Mile at Newmarket as her next start.

Bred by Angelo Robiati, the grey filly is by Mastercraftsman and was sold as a foal at Goffs for €18,000 and a year later at Newmarket to the trainer for 42,000 guineas. She has solid form and judged by her Baden-Baden success is still improving, but probably needs to up her game again to score at Newmarket.

BIG RACE

Big race of the week was of course Sunday’s Grosser Preis von Baden, usually the best race of the year in Germany. However this edition lost some of its quality with the late withdrawal of Ito, the likely favourite following his excellent run behind Second Step at Hoppegarten, who was found to be running a temperature. This was a bitter blow for connections, who had taken this race last year with the distantly-related Ivanhowe. Trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho later suggested that Ito could still run in the Prix Foy and then the Arc, but in the meantime that now looks very unlikely.

In his absence, French raider Prince Gibraltar was made 6/4 favourite to defeat six German-trained runners, headed by Italian Derby winner Goldstream, and the German classic runners-up Palace Prince (Derby) and Nightflower (Preis der Diana).

Prince Gibraltar had been placed last year in the French Derby and Grand Prix de Paris but his 2015 form did not look inspiring. In the event he was in much better form this time and won very easily after being given a very confident ride by Fabrice Veron, celebrating his first Group 1 success.

Veron kept Prince Gibraltar in last place as the filly Weltmacht set a strong pace, chased by the other filly in the field Nightflower. Prince Gibraltar was still last as the field swung into the straight, where Veron immediately took him to the stands’ rail on the wide outside.

Nightflower had by now taken the lead in the centre of the track, but Prince Gibraltar, racing alone on the rail, quickened up very smartly indeed to score by a length and three-quarters, with Nightflower keeping on for second and Sirius running on well for third.

READY FOR ARC

It was a very convincing performance and should put him spot on for the Arc, immediately nominated as his next race by his owner Jean-Francois Gribomont. Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget was not present, but confirmed this from Longchamp, adding that Prince Gibraltar first had a date at the Vente de l´Arc Sale on the evening before the race.

Prince Gibraltar was winning for the first time since taking the Prix Greffulhe in May 2014, but is not without a chance at Longchamp, especially if the ground comes up soft. However, he was only seventh behind Treve last year, beaten over four lengths, and there is no obvious reason why he should beat her this time and as a hold-up horse on whom exaggerated waiting tactics are normally used, may find the run of the race against him.