Eyes On Munich

[Wandering Eyes]

With just Sunday’s G1 Premio Lydia Tesio to follow, Munich celebrates Allerheiligen with Thursday’s G1 Bayerische Hausbau-Grosser Preis von Bayern, Europe’s penultimate top-level contest of the season. Britain has annexed nine incarnations since John Dunlop trainee Almaarad (GB) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}) led the way in 1988 and this year’s raiders are headed by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s G2 Jockey Club S. victor and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup third Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Likely to encounter favourable ground conditions, the grey lines up returning off a second in the Sept. 8 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and a 15th in last month’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, compromised by an outer gate in the latter. “Defoe was a dealt a difficult draw in the Arc and he also found the ground lively enough in a race of that calibre,” explained trainer Roger Varian. “He has come out of the contest okay and will enjoy getting back on an easier surface. He sets the standard on the pick of his form and deserves to win a race in top-flight company.”

Godolphin’s lightly raced 6-year-old Racing History (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) makes a belated start to 2018 having hit the board in last year’s G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in his only start since posting a second in the 2016 edition of this. Saeed bin Suroor has two previous renewals to his name, scoring with Cherry Mix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) in 2006 and Campanologist (Kingmambo) in 2010, and is hopeful of a good performance after a stop-start three years with the homebred bay. “Racing History has had his problems and was unsound for a long time, but he has being going well at home recently,” the trainer said. “He will come on for this first start of the year, but I have been happy with his work and I am looking for a good run.”

Britain’s trio also includes Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris placegetter Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}), who goes postward for Mark Johnston–who trained 2002 hero Yavana’s Pace (Ire) (Accordion {Ire})–coming back off a fourth in the Sept. 15 G1 St Leger at Doncaster. Last term’s G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Preis von Europa hero Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) leads domestic hopes and, although winless since that latter success, has hit the board in this year’s G1 Coronation Cup and when defending Cologne’s Sept. 23 renewal of the Europa. He is joined by Iquitos (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), whose resume includes wins in the 2016 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and last term’s G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis. The Hans-Jurgen Groschel trainee was a half-length adrift of Defoe when third in this year’s Baden-Baden highlight and ran second last time when odds-on for Hoppegarten’s Oct. 3 G3 Preis der Deutschen Einheit. Jaber Abdullah’s Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}) completes the home defence and, having run third in July’s G1 Deutsches Derby and the following month’s G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, seeks a fourth win for conditioner Andreas Wohler backing up a fourth in ParisLongchamp’s Sept. 16 G2 Prix Niel. France’s tricolore has yet to be hoisted and the trend should continue, although last term’s G2 Grand Prix de Deauville victor and likely outsider Tiberian (Fr) (Tiberius Caeser {Fr}) was under seven lengths behind Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), and ahead of Defoe, when 12th contesting last month’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

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