--Analysis by Helmut Winter

It is the day that all gallop fans in Germany have been looking forward to for months: Sunday sees the most important race of the year in Hamburg, the IDEE 153rd German Derby (Group I, $680,000 US dollars, 2400 meters / 1-1/2 miles, 9th race). Whoever wins here and succeeds Sisfahan will be a horse for the history books.

The role of favorites in the 20-strong field is likely to be shared by the first two finishers of the Group 2 Union race: In Cologne, Stud Wiedingen's Sammarco (B. Murzabayev) from Peter Schiergen's stable narrowly won against Schlenderhan's So Moonstruck (now with world-class jockey Lanfranco Dettori, as Andrasch Starke is suspended). Which of the two will be further ahead this time will probably depend on the course of the race and the form of the day. Both trainers, Peter Schiergen (Sammarco) and Markus Klug (So Moonstruck) are considered Derby specialists.

Trainer Klug is attacking hugely anyway, as he has a total of seven horses in the lineup. Darius Racing's Ardakan (C. Lecoeuvre) already has a blue ribbon to his name with the Italian Derby. The Ittlinger Lavello (A. de Vries) triumphed in the Bavarian Classic against the two top favorites, among others, and then also held his own as third in the Prix Hocquart in Paris. With the Rottgenerin Wagnis (in the saddle sits the British Hollie Doyle, the first female rider to win the Million Race for the Prix de Diane in Chantilly), the winner of the Diana Trial in Hoppegarten, and the Karlshofer Mylady (R. Kingscote), the runner-up from the 1,000 Guineas in Dusseldorf, two mares are among the Klug hopefuls. Lotterbov (M. Pecheur) was second in the Derby trial in Dusseldorf when Nerik (now with Amazon Sibylle Vogt), trained by Peter Schiergen for Stable Nice, gave a gala performance. A year ago, the later Derby winner was second here with Sisfahan.

Andreas Wohler hopes for Ittlingen's Union third Alessio (R. Piechulek) for Ittlingen Stud, Paschberg's Queroyal (E. Pedroza), who won the trial in Baden-Baden and was subsequently named for the Derby, Maraseem (J. Bojko), the Union fourth, and Bukhara (D. Vargiu), the third from Dusseldorf. Assistant (C. Fallon), one of Henk Grewe's chances, picked up a late Derby ticket as winner of the trial in Hanover. But in the Blue Ribbon, as is well known, outsiders are always to be reckoned with.

Win: #2 So Moonstruck
Exacta Box: 1,2
Longshot: #4 Ardakan (Winner of the Thoroughbred Derby 2022 in Rome, Italy and only horse with experience of racing against some many horses in the field)
Trifecta 4,6 -1,2 – 1,2

Top-Class Supporting Program

Of course, there will also be a top-class supporting program at the Hamburg Finals with twelve races starting at 10:50 a.m. (The first five races and the Derby are also part of the card), including two additional group races.

In the Sparkasse Holstein Cup (Group III, $55,000 euros, 1600 meters / 1 mile, 5th race at 12:50 p.m.), three-year-old and older mares are challenged. In an international field, watch out for 1,000 Guineas third Dishina (B. Murzabayev) and Mythicara (S. Vogt), who came in not far behind her, among others. Guests from France, Italy and Norway enrich the field.

Also reserved for the fillies, but the three-year-olds, is the Mehl Mulhens Trophy (Group III, $55,000 euros, 2200 meters / 11 furlongs, 6th race at 1:30 p.m.). The Schlenderhaner Mountana (L. Dettori), who dominated in the Karin Baronin von Ullmann-Schwarzgold race, has very good prospects.

Selections for every Race:

1.Race: Soul Dancer (4) – First Vision (8) – So Chivalry (7) – Night Ocean (2) – 3 – 1

2.Race: Valuable Vista (3) – Sweet Fantasy (2) – Lina (1) – Tex Lot (8) – 6 – 4

3.Race: Kadjar (7) – Lanuza (1) – Next Dawn (9) – Second Sight (6) – 11 – 10

4.Race: New Wizard (6) – Kir Royal (3) – Lightning Jock (9) – Ideal Approach (8) – 1 – 4

5.Race: Dishina (6) – Mythicara (8) – Telepatic Glances (4) – Ascot Brass (1) – 5 – 3

6.Race: Mountaha (5) – Well Disposed (8) – Sweet Pro (7)

7.Race: Arnis Master (1) – Conan (5) – Lady Horizon (12) – Quarantini (10)

8.Race: Nastaria (1) – Wonderful Eagle (5) – Derida (9)

9.Race: So Moonstruck (2) – Sammarco (1) – Lavello (6) – Ardakan (4) – 12 – 7

10.Race: Woody Wood (3) – Tarkhan (5) – Kongo (2)

11.Race: Ginistrelli (7) – Dynamite Star (8) – Quirin (9)

12.Race: Neruas (8) – Mister Wonderful (4) – Sancho (11) – Near The Moon (2)