 Expert - Catrin Nack | |
|---|---|
| Catrin became hooked with racing when she watched ZAUBERER ploughing through the mud to win the German Derby in 1978. She ventured into racehorse-ownership in 1994, and this horse, a mare, is still with her at the tender age of 30. Catrin and her husband have been running several syndicates, mainly with homebred horses, and continue to breed in partnerships. She joined the German racing newsletter Turf-Times as a freelance writer in 2010 and has been contributing about English and Irish racing, with a focus on National Hunt, until 2023. | |
Expert Column for Grosser Preis von Berlin Day (S1) (Catrin Nack)
S1-1 Hoppegartener Stutenpreis
The Listed Hoppegartener Stutenpreis over 1,800m is for 3YO and upwards. Nine fillies and mares line up, with one French raider taking on eight local ladies.
Henri-Alex Pantall trains MOUNTAIN SONG for the mighty Godolphin operation, again she is the logical starting point when assessing the form. Unraced at 2YO, and previously trained in Newmarket, she was sent to France earlier this year. She won a race over 1,600m at ParisLongchamp and was then second in a French Listed race. While all her wins have been over a mile and she was placed over further when trained in England, so Sunday’s intermediate trip should hold no fears. She is the highest-rated filly in the line-up yet does receive weight under the race conditions, so is the logical favourite.
The eight-strong domestic opposition is brimming with promises and interesting form. Tradition German owner-breeders are strongly represented in their search for valuable Black-Type (a win or at least a placing at least Listed level for breeding purposes), PEACE OF ROSE, ANISTOU, EMPORE, KOFFI KICK and ROYAL NIGHT fall into that category.
PEACE OF ROSE won at Listed level at this track earlier in the year, thus has to give weight all around.
EMPORE won a Listed race last year and even ran in the G1 Preis der Diana - German Oaks over 2,200m, her current form leaves her with some questions to answer though.
KOFFI KICK worked her way through the ranks and is fascination up in grade, the same comments apply for ANISTOU.
SELECTIONS: 6. MOUNTAIN SONG, 5. KOFFI KICK, 4. EMPORE, 2. ANISTOU & 8. CALYX ROSE
1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S1-1: Multiple – 6. MOUNTAIN SONG & 5. KOFFI KICK
S1-2: Multiple – 4. ROSE OF LIPS & 2. DONNER EARL
S1-2 Class 2 Handicap
A strong field of 11 largely in-form horses shall line up in the Class 2 handicap over 2,000m, headed by NEPALO. The 6YO is in good form and has a pattern of win-lose-win-lose this term, three wins in 2024 were always followed by defeat, the last quite hefty. The suspicion is that he is handicapped to the hilt, in fact this will be his last season and his retirement plans have been made.
DONNER EARL is a solid campaigner best at around this trip, his trainer has recaptured solid form and booked the horse’s last winning jockey, one of the top names in Germany.
Local trainer Eva Fabianova sends three horses, ROSE OF LIPS and VANCOUVER should have the best chances of her trio.
ILIANO is trained by a small permit holder who has his horses in fine fettle. He comes in on a low weight, under his regular pilot Jozef Bojko, and must have a good chance in a typically open affair.
SELECTIONS: 4. ROSE OF LIPS, 2. DONNER EARL, 10. VANCOUVER & 11. ILIANO
2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S1-2: Multiple – 4. ROSE OF LIPS & 2. DONNER EARL
S1-3: Multiple – 3. VELATO & 10. MARALENA
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (18 unit bets):
S1-2:
Banker – 4. ROSE OF LIPS
Selections – 2. DONNER EARL, 10. VANCOUVER & 11. ILIANO
S1-3:
Banker – 3. VELATO
Selections –10. MARALENA, 8. AGELESS LIPS, 5. ALTISTA & 13. VIVIANE
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-2: Multiple – 4. ROSE OF LIPS, 2. DONNER EARL & 10. VANCOUVER
S1-3: Multiple – 3. VELATO, 10. MARALENA & 8. AGELESS LIPS
S1-4: Multiple – 1. AL RIFFA, 3. KING OF CONQUEST & 7. NARRATIVO
S1-3 HKJC World Pool Handicap
The HKJC World Pool Handicap is headed by the likeable SKY EMPEROR, one of three for local top trainer Roland Dzubasz. This is the 7YO 51st lifetime start, the 8th start of this season, and while winless so far this season he has been knocking on the door and can go close again. Don’t rule out Dzubasz other two runners: VELATO is owned by GaloppClub Hoppegarten e.V named after this racetrack, so no doubt connections would love nothing better than scoring here; he is on a fair mark. Last and least the trainer sends ALTISTA who has the strongest jockey booking of the trio.
LA MONTESPAN and MARALENA are trained by small permit holders Jutta Pohl and Daniel Paulick who have done well with them. The former is a winner last time out, and while her best trip seems further, she has a strong jockey Thore Hammer Hansen booked so has to be respected. The latter is in cracking form and won the last two starts, so she is quite high in the handicap and now steps up in class.
Sibylle Vogt is a strong jockey able to do low weights. She has been snapped up by Pavel Vovcenko for VIVIANE. The 5YO mare come here in cracking form with placings in her last five races; with her strong rider she is expected to make her presence felt.
SELECTIONS: 3. VELATO, 10. MARALENA, 8. AGELESS LIPS, 5. ALTISTA & 13. VIVIANE
3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S1-3: Multiple – 3. VELATO & 10. MARALENA
S1-4: Multiple – 1. AL RIFFA & 3. KING OF CONQUEST
S1-4 Grosser Preis von Berlin
The Grosser Preis von Berlin is one of only seven G1 races run in Germany. One might call it Germany´s equivalent to Britain’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot as the countries midsummer highlight.
An international field with an Irish and an English raider will assemble for this 2,400m G1 race. The last three winners of this race, have been trained abroad, and looking into AL RIFFA’s and KING OF CONQUEST’s form is the logical starting point. Trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien, son of trainer legend Aidan and highly decorated in his own right, AL RIFFA couldn’t be in better hands. The 4YO son of sire sensation WOOTTON BASSETT has only run eight times to date, so he is relatively lightly raced. His two wins including his maiden and a G1 in a smashing juvenile campaign. His 3YO was curtailed to only two starts, in which he finished second both times. His three runs this season haven’t resulted in a win just yet. But both this and last year AL RIFFA showed immense talent in defeat, with second places to subsequent unbeaten Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe winner ACE IMPACT in 2023 and to reigning Derby Stakes hero CITY OF TROY in Sandown’s G1 Eclipse Stakes latest the clear form pick of any of Sundays runners. Joseph O’Brien mentioned the Arc as AL RIFFA’s potential autumn target; the Grosser Preis von Berlin has been used as a stepping stone for that race a few times before. It is worth noting that Sundays race is AL RIFFA’s first attempt at 2,400m, and while the distance should be no problem on breeding, it is a slight question mark.
Charlie Appleby won this race with REBEL’S ROMANCE in 2022. That horse went on to become one of the global stars, and KING OF CONQUEST arrives with a roughly similar profile. His seasonal hefty defeat was bettered by a game 2nd at G3 level, KING OF CONQUEST then went to win two Listed races. Proven at this trip and largely ground-independent, he is a solid alternative and a fascinating contender.
Five domestic runners will line up against these, and choosing the leading German raider is tentative. The sole 3YO in the line-up is NARRATIVO, who stepped up on a French Group placing to take Germany’s main Derby trial, something was then amiss in the Derby itself. While on a slight recovery mission, he is sure to be much better than his latest form. In fact, he would be the one they all have to beat if his rating and weight-for-age concessions are taken literally.
BEST OF LIPS won a G3 last time out and has been supplemented. The 6YO is a very solid performer and won a principal Derby Trial back in his day, but has never scored at this level. Both TUNNES and MR HOLLYWOOD filled the places behind BEST OF LIPS in the last run, and are very solid performers in their own right. The former, now a 5YO, last won was in 2022, has been ambitiously campaigned since, the latter is clearly smart but winless at this trip in six tries to date.
SELECTIONS: 1. AL RIFFA, 3. KING OF CONQUEST, 7. NARRATIVO, 5. MR HOLLYWOOD & 2. BEST OF LIPS
Disclaimer:
The above content and information are the personal views and/or opinions of each individual writer and do not represent the views of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and/or its subsidiaries (together, the "HKJC"). The content and information are provided by the writers solely for entertainment purpose only, and should not be construed as a suggestion for anyone to place any bet nor should they be taken and/or relied upon as advice of any kind. The above content and information have not been verified, confirmed and/or endorsed by HKJC and HKJC shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage suffered by such person as a result of any use or reliance of the above content or information.
HKJC shall not be required to give and does not give any warranty, whether express or implied, arising out of or in connection with the content or information. The Club disclaims any responsibility and accepts no liability (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for any direct or indirect loss of damage arising from any inaccuracies, omission or typographical errors that may be contained therein. The Club also does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or fitness for purpose of any such information.
