61st Preis von Europa (Group 1)

THE Jessica Harrington-trained filly Trevaunance put up a bold show when second in the the 61st Preis von Europa in Cologne last Sunday, going down by a length and a quarter to the German mare India.

The winner, a five year-old Adlerflug mare, raced in mid-division, and was ridden over two furlongs out to lead over a furlong out, before staying on well.

It was another big win for jockey Rene Piechulek, who won the Arc on Torquator Tasso and has won the Deutsches Derby and the Prix Niel aboard Fantastic Moon this season. He had also already guided India to a Group 3 success at Longchamp in April.

Moyglare Stud’s Trevaunance raced keenly in second for much of the race and made her bid off the home bend.

Ridden from three furlongs out, she lost position over a furlong out, as the winner hit the front and Godolphin’s Siskany went second, but to her credit, the Irish-trained Muhaarar filly kept on again on the rail to regain narrow second towards finish backing up her good run and third-placed effort at the Curragh just a fortnight ago in her owner/breeder Moylglare’s own race, the Group 2 Blandford Stakes.

She was beaten a length and a quarter here but picked up Group 1 blacktype under Hollie Doyle.

Siskany was prominent on the outer for William Buick, then ridden three out and went second over a furlong out, but made no further impression on the leader in the final furlong, narrowly dropping to third towards finish.

Trust

“I always had a lot of trust in the mare. I felt the opponents breathing down our necks, but she has a great attitude and gave her all again today,” Piechulek told Deutscher Galopp.

The mare’s early season form when beating subsequent Group 1 winner Mqse De Sevigne in a Group 3 had put her in the reckoning here.

Trainer Waldemar Hickst had switched India from a planned run in the Grade 1 EP Taylor Stakes in Canada against her own sex and was rewarded as Gestut Ittlingen’s daughter of Adlerflug recorded an eighth career success from 17 starts.

The Grosser Preis von Bayern in November is now a likely target.

Hollie Doyle and trainer Amy Murphy combined for success when favourite Geologist held off Shagara to land the listed race for two-year-old fillies, the Koln-Winterkonigin Trial, in the colours of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.