Westminster 133rd Grosser Preis von Berlin (Group 1)

FRENCH-trained Simca Mille predictably proved too good for his opposition in the Westminster 133rd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten last Sunday to register his first Group 1 win after a couple of seconds at Group 1 level, including going down by a neck in last season’s Grand Prix de Paris.

Trainer Stephane Wattel was enjoying a first Group 1 success after over 30 years of training.

The last three winners of the German Group 1 have been 2020 Torquator Tasso, 2021 Alpinista and 2022 Rebel’s Romance, who went on to win two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes (though a year after winning here) and the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner from last season.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the likely next stop for Simca Mille on October 1st.

Sent off at odds-on, the four-year-old by Tamayuz, breezed past his rivals in the home straight and fought on gamely under Alexis Pouchin to win by three quarters of a length from the 2021 German Derby winner Sisfahan.

It was a second Group 1 for the rider, who was aboard Mqse De Sevigne in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild last month.

A delighted Wattel siad: “It’s fantastic for the horse and it’s very nice for me too, it’s my first Group 1 after more than 30 years of training. I’m so happy to have this happen here in Berlin.”