Wempe 104th German 1000 Guineas (Group 2)

THERE was a fine hour of success for trainer Karl Burke on Sunday as three quarters of an hour before he won the 1000 Guineas at the Curragh, the Newtown Anner Stud-owned Darnation led home a British one-two in Dusseldorf, when, handily-placed throughout, she stayed on well to land the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas on a memorable afternoon for the trainer.

The Too Darn Hot filly who went off favourite, mowed down the Stan Moore-trained Queues Likely, who had won for the fourth time in a row last month in a Group 3 at Cologne.

Darnation scored by two and a quarter-lengths under Adrie de Vries, with local runner Three Havanas claiming third.

Burke at the Curragh, later reflected on his fine double. “I was hopeful today, and she will improve again. We were very lucky that she got her ground. It was heavy. Adrie de Vries is a master around Dusseldorf and I’m told he rode a great race.”

De Vries won the Prix Jean Romanet and Premio Lydia Tesio for Burke on Odeliz in 2015. “He’s had four rides for me, two Group 1 winners and a Group 3 before today and now a Group 2. It’s been a great day.”

The Group 2 May Hill Stakes winner on soft ground at Doncaster last autumn, Darnation never got involved in finishing 14th on her reappearance in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.“She’s taken a step forward today and I still think there’s a bit more improvement to come,” Burke said.