‘A True Sensation’: Albert Darboven, Owner-Breeder of Polish Vulcano, on his Deep Link with the German Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

For Hamburg resident Albert Darboven, every Derby day is special, not least because for the last 16 years his family's coffee trading company JJ Darboven has sponsored the German Classic. But the businessman has also tasted success at the highest level as the owner-breeder of the 1992 winner Pik Koenig (Koenigsstuhl), and last Sunday another chapter was added to his storied association with the Deutsches Derby when Darboven's homebred stallion Polish Vulcano was responsible for this year's winner Hochkoenig.

“It was incredible to witness Hochkoenig's victory live on Sunday and of course it means a lot to me and to the employees at my stud that Polish Vulcano produces great racehorses. This shows you don't always have to go to the most expensive stallions to get an honest horse with a big, champion's heart.”

The 17-year-old son of former German Horse of the Year Lomitas has stood at Darboven's Gestuet Idee throughout his stud career and has been advertised for as little as €800. His 2025 fee was €2,000.

A Group 3 winner in the Darboven silks when trained by Andreas Wohler, he ran 21 times across five seasons for six wins and hails from a line which has been long nurtured at the Hamburg stud: Polish Vulcano's third dam Pikante was also the dam of Pik Koenig.

Darboven adds of the Derby, “It is a very important race for me as Hamburg is my home town. Preserving the great and long-standing tradition in Horn is important to me, even if racing in Germany has lost ground.”

The numbers have fallen in Germany certainly – whether that's breeders, racecourses or racegoers – but the standards have not. Conduct a straw poll among German breeders as to the race they would most like to win and a large percentage would answer: “The Derby”.

Darboven, the first Hamburg local to own and breed a Deutsches Derby winner, founded Gestuet Idee in 1970. The stud was relocated to its present site, close to the River Elbe, in 1989. 

He says, “Indeed, it was a true sensation back in 1992 when I managed to win a major race right here in my home town. Achieving such a victory on home turf was an unforgettable moment — both personally and for the local racing community. It marked a special chapter in the history of the Hamburg racing tradition.”

 

Darboven, left, with homebred Classic winner Mi Emma | Racingfotos

 

Darboven has not solely raced locally, however. In 2007, he brought his German 1,000 Guineas winner Mi Emma (Silvano) to run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Andreas Wohler-trained filly finished second to Indian Ink (Indian Ridge) and later won the G2 Oettingen-Rennen at Baden-Baden. She is not the breeder's only link to Britain, either.

He says, “In addition to racing and breeding, I was also an active polo player for many years — a sport that further deepened my bond with horses and sharpened my sense for teamwork, precision, and discipline in the saddle. Over the years, I had the privilege of competing internationally, including matches against distinguished British teams, among them opponents such as Prince Philip and King Charles III — memorable encounters that reflect both the spirit and tradition of the sport.”

He adds, “I am also deeply honoured to be a member of the prestigious British Guards Polo Club, a distinction that remains a source of great personal pride.”

At Gestuet Idee, Darboven keeps 10 mares and, having started breeding Thoroughbreds, subsequently also became involved with trotters. In 2019, he was awarded the German Horseracing Medal of Honour for his “unique commitment” to the Derby.

Understandably, Polish Vulcano is Darboven's pride and joy, and the stallion rewarded him with a homebred dual G3 St Leger Italiano winner in Sir Polski, a member of his 2017 crop. Now 17, he has never covered more than 15 mares in one season, and most of the time his visitors are in single figures. In each of the last two seasons he has been sent seven mares.

His owner says, “Polish Vulcano is a very calm stallion in handling. He has his quirks – he doesn't like water, he loves to have his bottom scratched, he doesn't like gutters, he loves having all his mares around him – but we as a team at the stud farm just laugh about it. He doesn't hold anything against you. We love him very much.”

Darboven is now breeding from one of Polish Vulcano's daughters, who has a Cracksman colt foal at foot this year, while from the stallion's female family they also have Prima Violetta (by Arieon out of Power Penny) and her half-sister Primorosa (Harzand) in the broodmare band.

The breeders of Derby winner Hochkoenig, Marc and Gabi Ruehl, confirmed in yesterday's TDN that his dam Halinara (Kallisto) will be returning to Polish Vulcano in 2025 along with her daughter Halima (Tertullian).

“We'll wait and see if other breeders approach us next season,” says Darboven. His phone may just be a little busier come the end of the year. 

 

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