Grosser Allianz-Preis von Bayern (Group 1)

THE Grosser Preis von Bayern to be run at Munich tomorrow is the final Group 1 race of the European season.

It used to be run as the Aral-Pokal in mid-August at the now defunct Gelsenkrchen-Horst track, but has taken on a new lease of life after moving to Munich and this very late date.

Unfortunately, like so many races this season, it has cut up badly; only six have been declared, and one of them, local hope Mendocino, is expected to be scratched because of the heavy going. He was a half-length runner-up here last year to Alpinista, form which now reads very well. Mendocino remains on course for the Hong Kong Vase, where the going should be more suitable.

We are now left with five likely runners, two of which are trained in the UK: Godolphin’s Siskani, trained by Charlie Appleby and the mount of Mickael Barzalona, and Ralph Beckett’s Albaflora to be ridden by Rossa Ryan.

She is like Alpinista, a Kirsten Rausing homebred and, as the name suggest, from the same family. She is also a five-year-old mare, but with all due respect does not look up to the class of her close relation.

Her best form was over a year ago, when she was beaten a short-head in the Qipco British Champion Fillies and Mares race at Ascot. However, she has been well beaten on her three starts this season.

Siskany must be taken seriously. Appleby has a great record in Germany, and it was long ago decided to run him here, while Rebel’s Romance, who has won two Group 1s in Germany this year for the team, runs in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

There are definite similarities between Siskany and Rebel’s Romance; both are Dubawi geldings, both won on the all-weather in England, both have won at Meydan, both continued to improve. Siskany is indeed going up sharply in grade here, but runners from these connections must always be respected.

Best of the three German-trainers runners, all three-year-olds, should be Tünnes, a half-brother to Torquator Tasso.

He was a top juvenile last year and clear ante-post favourite for this year’s German Derby. However, after a setback in the spring he had to miss the race, but he has made an excellent comeback with two easy wins in the autumn, including an eight-length romp in the German St Leger.

The other two are both trained by Markus Klug. Lavello won the Bavarian Classic here in May, beating subsequent German Derby winner Sammarco, while Well Disposed, a Dubawi half-sister to two winners of the German Derby, is up in class after winning two Group 3s.

None of the five can be totally discarded, but Siskany and Tünnes look the likeliest winners.