The Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden is the feature race on Sunday at Baden-Baden. This Group 1 contest is run over 1 mile 4 furlongs and is open to horses aged three years and upwards. A €250,000 prize fund is one of the largest in Germany each season and always attracts a strong International field, with the added allure of a guaranteed ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf for the winner.
There have been some big names on the roll of honour including Lando (1993 & 1994), Tiger Hill (1998 & 1999) and more recently Danedream (2011 & 2012). Iquitos landed the race in 2016 and returns here to emulate some of racings elite mentioned above. Hans-Jürgen Gröschel son of Alderflug has only won at the highest level on one occasion since that victory and was well beaten behind Benbatl in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis when last seen.
Roger Varian has had a quiet season by his standards but he’ll be hoping that one of his leading lights Defoe can bring this Group 1 prize back to English soil. The son of Dalakanhi hasn’t been seen since an underwhelming run at the Curragh in May behind Lancaster Bomber.
Prior to this, he had won his two other starts this season in Group 2 and Group 3 contests at Newmarket and Newbury. Roger Varian will have his charge back on song in an attempt to land his first Group 1 prize.
The other English raider is Saeed Bin Suroor’s Best Solution who has won both his starts on European soil this season. The son of Kodiac ran well in Meydan earlier in the earlier in the year but after a break, he won a Group 2 at Newmarket and then landed the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin at Hoppegarten.
Pat Cosgrave will be hoping his mount can add another Group 1 to his CV and it would seem that Defoe may be the only viable obstacle.
Dschingis Secret who won the Group 1 Preis Von Berlin last season and although he was beaten Best Solution last time out, he was hampered in the closing stages and connections will be hoping that with some luck in running he can turn the tables with his rival.
The booking of Oisin Murphy on Night Music really catches the eye. The son of Sea The Stars won a Group Two contest in Italy with the Irishman in the plate and he may just sneak a place here.
Finally, the remainder of the field is completed by Windstoss, Khan and Rapido.
Selection: Defoe
