 David Conolly-Smith |
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| David Conolly-Smith was born in Nottingham, England. He was educated at Nottingham High School and the University of Cambridge and moved to Munich after graduation. Always interested in horse racing, he began writing on German racing for The Sporting Life in 1973 and soon afterwards joined the International Racing Bureau as their German representative, which he still is to this day. When The Racing Post was founded in 1986, he became their German correspondent and kept that position for 30 years. Since 2003, he has been a freelance journalist and translator, specialing in German racing and breeding. For several years he was also a commentator on the top German races for the Dubai Racing Channel. He still writes regularly for EBN, Turf Times, Irish Field, Vollblut and other publications and is regarded as the leading English-language expert on German racing. |
Expert Column for Grosser Preis von Baden Day (S2) (David Conolly-Smith)
S2-1 Oettingen Rennen
There are no G1 races over 1,600m in Germany, the best 1,600m races are the Badener Meile at the Baden-Baden Spring Meeting and the Oettingen Rennen on Sunday, both G2 and both at this track.
BEST LIGHTNING (trained by Andreas Suborics and ridden by Martin Seidl) won the former race this year from ZAVARO (trained by Mario Hofer and ridden by Leon Wolff), so it is not surprise to see them both in the line-up again. BEST LIGHTNING now has to carry 2lbs more so there should be very little in it this time.
Last year the Oettingen Rennen, which has a new sponsor this time, was won by the Spanish-trained RODABALLA, but none of the runners from that race reappear this time. But overseas runners is likely to win again here, as Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez is sending the 6YO SIMPLY STRIKING with Tony Piccone in the saddle. He was fifth last time in the G3 Prix Messidor, but, to be honest, that is unlikely to be good enough here.
The other foreign runner looks more dangerous. This is HURRICANE DREAM, trained in France by Francis Henry Graffard and for whom Frankie Dettori has been booked. He was third in the G2 Prix du Muguet in May and then runner-up in G3 La Coupe at ParisLongchamp in June over 2,000m. He is now down in trip and coming off a break of three months, but that should be no problem and Graffard has an excellent strike rate in Germany. According to the official ratings, HURRICANE DREAM is the best horse in the field and looks certain to give a good account of himself.
Of the German runners, Cologne trainer Peter Schiergen holds a strong hand with two smart 3YO’s running. Stable jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev has chosen CALIF, narrowly beaten last time in the G3 Fritz Henkel Stiftung-Rennen at Dusseldorf, where DAPANGO was a close third, BEST LIGHTNING fourth and ZAVARO seventh. DAPANGO is now better off at the weights and must also be considered. He ran in the G3 Bavarian Classic and G1 Deutsches Derby, but this trip could well be more suitable.
Schiergen also runs FIRE OF THE SUN (ridden by Maxim Pecheur), who was runner-up in the G3 Premio Parioli - Italian 2000 Guineas. Italian form is normally weaker than German, and ARNIS MASTER, who was sixth in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen - German 2000 Guineas could well be stronger, he has since won two valuable sales races, but this opposition looks much tougher.
The 5YO RUBAIYAT could be the interesting runner, he was Germany’s Horse of the Year at two, when he was unbeaten in four starts, and also had good 3YO form, runner-up in both the Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen - German 2000 Guineas and Premio Parioli - Italian 2000 Guineas and also third in the Oettingen Rennen. A return to his best form would give him a chance, but his form this season is not inspiring.
The 6YO RUNNYMEDE has three wins from four starts in France this year, but all at a much lower level.
SELECTIONS: 2. HURRICANE DREAM, 9. DAPANGO, 8. CALIF, 1. BEST LIGHTNING & 6. ZAVARO
S2-2 3yo+ Handicap
This is a typical Baden-Baden handicap, with 10 runners declared, all with some sort of chance and none that can be discarded altogether. Surprisingly there are no 3YO’s in the field, but this certainly does not make it easier.
Several of these runners look as is if they have specially saved for this race, including 7YO EARL, locally trained by Carmen Bocskai with hot young jockey Leon Wolff in the saddle, he always runs well here.
RUFOLO won here at the Spring Meeting with CHIPPING AWAY third, but the latter, who ran over hurdles last year in the UK, is now much better off at the weights. Top weight DORMIO has won three races this season but could be too high in the weights for now.
ALPINIUS was third here last Sunday over 1,500m, but this trip will suit him better and both trainer Friederike Schloms and jockey Maxim Pecheur are enjoying a successful run at this meeting.
The filly AOJANA won a small race at this meeting last year and then won a handicap on very soft going, which she could well encounter again. She has run badly on both 2022 starts, but that may not mean too much. Her trainer, Marcel Weiss saddles the favourite in the G1 race half an hour later. Another filly with good course form is SAPHIRA DREAM. Top German jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev partners MAGIC CAROUSEL, a winner twice this year for Bohumil Nedorostek, and she must also be considered.
It really is a wide open race, and we hope that the course specialists may prove to be the strongest contenders.
SELECTIONS: 3. EARL, 8. CHIPPING AWAY, 9. SAPHIRA DREAM, 2. ALPINIUS & 7. AOJANA
S2-3 Grosser Preis von Baden
The Grosser Preis von Baden, first run in 1858, is generally recognised as the best race in Germany and normally sees the best 3YO’s in the country versus the best older horses with some top international competition to make it even more exciting.
This year is however slightly different. We certainly have the best German 3YO in the field, SAMMARCO, winner of the G1 Deutsches Derby, and the best older horse, the 5YO TORQUATOR TASSO, who won the race last year and is going for a repeat victory, but no foreign runners at all. And it has been reported that ARDAKAN, winner of the Italian Derby, has been sold to race in Australia, and is therefore likely leaving just 4 runners in this race. Apart from being a top race by any standard, the Grosser Preis von Baden has shown itself over the years to be an ideal prep race for the 2,400m G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the world’s best race over this distance, and normally - as this year - run exactly four weeks later.
TORQUATOR TASSO followed up his 2021 victory at Baden-Baden by winning the Arc, and his whole season has been geared towards repeating those wins in 2022. He began 2022 with his one poor performance, when only sixth of seven behind ALTER ADLER in the G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen at the Spring Meeting here, but he can be excused that as he apparently always runs below form on his first race after a long break. He put that right by easily winning the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis at the Deutsches Derby meeting at Hamburg (ALTER ADLER well beaten), and then followed up with his best performance of 2022 when runner-up in Ascot’s G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He has been partnered by Rene Piechulek on all his recent starts, but that jockey has been claimed to ride MENDOCINO for his retaining stable, but connections have certainly found the right substitute in Frankie Dettori, who will be riding him for the first time, but he has already won the Grosser Preis von Baden three times and knows the track well.
The problem is that TORQUATOR TASSO has scared off most of the likely opposition. He has also rather spoiled the race as a betting medium, as he seems certain to start as a very warm favourite indeed. The main interest in the race will be to see how Derby winner SAMMARCO, as Germany’s best 3YO, fares; he beat good older horses over 2,000m at Munich last time, but has never yet faced an opponent of TORQUATOR TASSO’s class. He is however probably booked for second place, as the other runners are hard to fancy.
The May winner ALTER ADLER ran feebly at Hamburg in July and his previous defeat of TORQUATOR TASSO should not be taken too seriously. He will probably make the running, which would be welcome as there is clearly a danger here of the race being run at a false pace.
We hope that SAMMARCO can take second place to confirm the Deutsches Derby form, but it could be close for the minor places. MENDOCINO would have a chance if back to his best form of last year, when runner-up to ALPINISTA in the G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern, but we fear that he and ALTER ADLER may be fighting it out for last place.
SELECTIONS: 3. TORQUATOR TASSO, 5. SAMMARCO & 1. ALTER ADLER
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