 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 Baden Day (S2) (Catrin Nack)
S2-1 HKJC World Pool Handicap
The HKJC World Pool Handicap race over 1,400m and 18 horses are declared. As is the nature of such races, weighing up form against a current rating and a liking for trip and or track or ground is the name of the game. The meeting is one the focus points when planning a season, so take horses to blossom here.
Andrasch Starke, Germany’s most famous jockey, gets down to his minimum weight, his mount READY TO RUMBLE still having to run with overweight though. Bauyrzhan Murzabayev is another jockey to note, especially as he is riding for a small local trainer in this. Fabian Weissmeier is an up-and-coming young trainer who runs his horses where the money is. He is a regular in France with that country´s elaborated prize-money and sends three runners for this race. Choosing between his runners is not easy, and DIRECT HIT, with talented apprentice Konstantin Phillip on board, is taken to come good. The jockey is claiming 9lbs and despite being half a kilo wrong in, DIRECT HIT is still on a very competitive mark on turf.
Everyone loves a grey so we cannot dismiss GREY SPARKLE. His trainer Sascha Smrczek is in flying form, and GREY SPARKLE won over the same course and distance in the last season. He has come down to a favourable mark, the draw has been kind.
YOU’VE GOT SAIL has such an exe-catching jockey booking that he has to be included in any tip, whereas PARTITA only had one run this season and could be fresh and spot on for this.
ESPERO is a 3YO and very lightly raced, and it will be interesting to see how he fares of this sort of mark.
SELECTIONS: 11. DIRECT HIT, 6. GREY SPARKLE, 5. YOU’VE GOT SAIL, 7. PARTITA & 9. ESPERO
1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-1: Multiple – 11. DIRECT HIT & 6. GREY SPARKLE
S2-2: Multiple – 12. SPORTING HUNTER & 3. GOLDEN PASSPORT
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-1:
Banker – 11. DIRECT HIT
Selections – 6. GREY SPARKLE, 5. YOU’VE GOT SAIL, 7. PARTITA & 9. ESPERO
S2-2:
Banker – 12. SPORTING HUNTER
Selections – 3. GOLDEN PASSPORT, 7. FRANKY'S DREAM, 1. NEWKIDONTHEBLOCK & 2. WALLEM
S2-2 World Pool Stadt Baden-Baden Cup
World Pool Stadt Baden-Baden Cup over 1,800m is run over the new course, 12 horses were declared midweek.
Christian Sprengel is a trainer impossible to dismiss in this sort of race, and while the low weigh rules out old sparring partner Andrasch Starke, his SPORTING HUNTER has won over the same course and distance, and weighted to go close again.
At the other end of the weight scale and carrying top weight is NEWKIDONTHEBLOCK, ridden by rising star Hugo Boutin, who is permanently riding in Germany this season. Trainer Oliver Schnakenberg has his string in flying form and his charge could go close under his welter burden.
The aforementioned Fabian Weissmeier runs GOLDEN PASSPORT. An export from England, this is his third run for this trainer with an eye-catching jockey booking.
Munich trainer Werner Glanz is another who likes to have a winner at Baden. His LIMBO DANCER has an up-and-coming apprentice in the saddle who is claiming four kilos; he is the course and distance winner and weighed to win.
SELECTIONS: 12. SPORTING HUNTER, 3. GOLDEN PASSPORT, 7. FRANKY'S DREAM, 1. NEWKIDONTHEBLOCK & 2. WALLEM
2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-2: Multiple – 12. SPORTING HUNTER & 3. GOLDEN PASSPORT
S2-3: Multiple – 2. ELAMAZ & 5. GEOGRAPHY
S2-3 Oettingen Rennen
The G2 Oettingen Rennen over 1,600m is open to 3YO and elders, and again sees a small but select field.
French contender ELAMAZ heads the betting and rightly so. The 4YO gelding is unbeaten this season in three runs, and won his last four races in total. He is a strong horse and given to step up again.
The strongest local challenge should come from a couple of 3YO colts, PENALTY and GEOGRAPHY. Both receive weight on the weight-for-age scale. So technically well in, both have to leave recent lesser runs behind. Taking natural progression through the year, and a return to a more favourable trip in PENALTY’s case, give both a very good chance to fill the frame.
SELECTIONS: 2. ELAMAZ, 5. GEOGRAPHY, 6. PENALTY & 1. BEST LIGHTNING
3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-3: Multiple – 2. ELAMAZ & 5. GEOGRAPHY
S2-4: Multiple – 1. AL RIFFA & 3. KING OF CONQUEST
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S2-3: Multiple – 2. ELAMAZ, 5. GEOGRAPHY & 6. PENALTY
S2-4: Multiple – 2. WITCHER OF LIPS, 7. LAZZARO & 5. AVOLA
S2-5: Multiple – 1. DUBAI HONOUR, 5. NARRATIVO & 6. SPANISH EYES
S2-4 HKJC World Pool Handicap
Last of the handicaps is a class2 race over 2400m. Again 12 horses are declared, with a couple of interesting 3YO taking on their elders.
Largely unexposed and/or making their debut at Handicap level, WITCHER OF LIPS, AVOLA and NACHTHIMMEL are the “youngsters” in the field and should all have their chances. While this is already a demanding environment, all three have shown talent and maybe even a touch of class; with interesting jockey bookings for the lot they all are very interesting contenders.
Topweight OROFINA is a late bloomer, the 4YO filly having only her third lifetime start. Her 3YO season ended early but with a bang when she won a valuable Sales race during Derby week of 2023. This is a tough race to start her season but she couldn´t be in better hands.
Others to note are LAZZARO, who goes for a three-timer and IMARAN, who is in fine form and bang on a winning mark.
SELECTIONS: 2. WITCHER OF LIPS, 7. LAZZARO, 5. AVOLA, 12. IMARAN, & 8. GOIN’
4TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 2. WITCHER OF LIPS & 7. LAZZARO
S2-5: Multiple – 1. DUBAI HONOUR & 5. NARRATIVO
S2-5 Grosser Preis von Baden
The G1 Grosser Preis von Baden over 2,400m is one of the only seven races of the highest class run in Germany, a true late summer clash of 3yo and older horses over the classic Derby trip and the countries premier weight-for-age affair.
The logical favourite again coming from abroad. DUBAI HONOUR, a 6YO globetrotter trained in England, has a top-class British jockey, Tom Marquand, on board, who accompanied his partner around the world for G1 wins in France and Australia. Having amassed more than 2.6 million pounds when winning eight races, even his runs in defeat behind, among others of course, BAAEED, PADDINGTON or a certain ROMANTIC WARRIOR clearly give him an outstanding chance.
FANTASTIC MOON heads the domestic challenge and is clear second best on ratings. While his season has been solid to say the least, he was well beaten in the Prix Ganay though.
The Classic generation is represented by a colt and a filly. NARRATIVO won a major Derby trial, then flopped in the Deutsches Derby itself. His latest second in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin was a clear step back in the right direction, he hasn’t got much to find on official ratings.
SPANISH EYES is lightly raced and highly progressive, she finished second in the G1 Preis der Diana - German Oaks over 2,200m, on only her third lifetime start and is thrown in at the deep end. Again, she is bang there on official ratings.
The duo of TUNNES and MR HOLLYWOOD complete the field. Both were regulars in this sort of race throughout the season, but must rate as outsiders here. While clearly smart, both come with question marks attached and it is hard to see any of them win under the current conditions.
SELECTIONS: 1. DUBAI HONOUR, 5. NARRATIVO, 6. SPANISH EYES & 2. FANTASTIC MOON
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