One last German Group 1 hurrah for the road
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Andre Fabre saddles Junko in the Group 1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern (2,400m).
PHOTO: SCOOPDYGA
Michael Lee
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The last Group 1 horse race of the 2025 European flat racing season is the Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern (2,400m), in Munich on Nov 8.
The €155,000 (S$233,000) contest also wraps up the series of seven Group 1 races in Germany. Just like its six predecessors, the Grand Prix of Bavaria as it is known in English, has attracted its fair share of overseas raiders, especially as it is the last chance to add some European black type on the resume.
Two of the foreign contenders include a past winner and a near-winner, Junko from France and Tiffany from England.
Whilst a German-bred six-year-old by Intello, Junko will bring the French flair of master trainer Andre Fabre again to his land of birth, having won the 2023 Grand Prix of Bavaria. The latter was to be the perfect stepping stone to his victory in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) a month later.
However, Junko has not found the line in five starts this campaign. But his close second to Rebel’s Romance in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin (2,400m) at Hoppegarten on Aug 10 augurs well for a repeat victory in the Bavaria.
On recent form, the two biggest offshore threats hail from the UK – Tiffany and Convergent.
Trained by Sir Mark Prescott in Newmarket, Tiffany looked to have the race all stitched up for regular partner Luke Morris in 2024, only for local hero Assistent (Thore Hammer-Hansen) to sneak up on the inside and deny her.
The Fahrr five-year-old mare’s recent second in the Group 1 Preis von Europa (2,400m) in Cologne on Sept 28 is a clear indicator she may well go one better this time. UK’s former all-weather champion jockey Morris stays in the saddle.
If Tiffany falls short again, Convergent shapes as the best chance of a visitor pulling off the heist.
The Karl Burke-trained Fascinating Rock three-year-old colt has the most upside, having won at his last two starts, overseas at Group level – in the Group 3 CMG Group Stakes (2,400m) in Leopardstown on Sept 13 and Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris (2,200m) at ParisLongchamp on Oct 19.
Norway’s Ami De Vega and UK’s Bay City Roller round out the international group, but are outsiders.
The Waldemar Hickst-trained Lazio, third in the Group 1 German Derby (2,400m) in July, is the home team’s best chance.
Cold Heart is a roughie but trainer Peter Schiergen’s assistant trainer son Vinzenz has a silent hope.
“He did a run a disappointing race last time in Baden-Baden but, since then, he has improved back in training,” he said.
“We think he can return back to his best.” Michael Lee
