Bay City Roller Makes All for Group 1 Glory in Munich

[Wandering Eyes]

Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) went unbeaten in a three-race juvenile campaign, but was winless in six starts this term, and last year's G2 Champagne Stakes victor powered clear off the front end in Saturday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern at Munich to cap a banner season for Newmarket-based conditioner George Scott.

“It coudn't have gone any better,” proclaimed Adrie de Vries, whose previous win in the contest came aboard Campanologist (Kingmambo) in 2010. “The trainer was extremely confident in the horse beforehand and that is why I delayed my trip to Dubai. The colt displayed awesome form and the trainer told me if we were ahead of the favourite in the straight that he would find it a really tough task to pass us. Of course he was correct and that is how it unfolded.”

“This has been a fantastic experience, Munich have been great hosts, and we're very relieved and delighted to come home with a win,” said Billy Jackson-Stops. “It's huge credit to Sheikh Nasser and his brother Sheikh Khaled for allowing this horse to come here. It would have been easy to put him away for the winter, but they're great sports, it's a great result and a huge traininig performance by George Scott. It's a winter break for sure for him now and we'll but him away for Group 1 campaign with a view to hom joining our stallion ranks at the end of next year. He'll be a fantastic addition.”

The 53-5 chance was no match for Convergent (Fascinating Rock) when fourth behind that reopposing rival in last month's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris and recovered from a slightly awkward to seize early control of Europe's final Group 1 contest of the year.

Holding sway at a sensible tempo throughout, he came under pressure when threatened by last year's runner-up Tiffany (Farhh) with 500 metres remaining and found plenty for continued urging inside the final quarter-mile to claim a career high in utterly dominant fashion. The winning margin was seven lengths back to Tiffany, who ran second in this once again, with Rashford (Zarak) faring best of the remainder and four lengths adrift in third.

Convergent, who started as the 3-5 favourite, threatened to feature in early straight, but floundered on turf which appeared much deeper than the official description of soft and was not unduly punished in the latter stages, finishing seventh of eight.

 

BAY CITY ROLLER lands the final European G1 of 2025!

What a performance by the @GScottracing star in the Grosser Preis von Bayern under Adrie de Vries. #WorldPool | @wettstar_de pic.twitter.com/1F9Bbb5HVU

— World Pool (@WorldPool) November 8, 2025

 

Pedigree Notes
Bay City Roller, the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire, is the third of five foals and leading performer from two scorers out of the dual stakes-winning G3 Give Thanks and G3 Munster Oaks runner-up Bloomfield (Teofilo), whose first foal was Listed Foundation Stakes and Listed Doncaster Mile placegetter Botanical (Lope De Vega). Bloomfield is a three-parts sister to G3 Athasi Stakes victrix Prima Luce (Galileo), herself the dam of stakes-winning GII Connaught Cup runner-up Emmaus (Invincible Spirit). Prima Luce is also the second dam of Listed Marwell Stakes third Indispensable (Ten Sovereigns). The February-foaled bay's second dam Ramona (Desert King) is an unraced half-sister to G1 July Cup runner-up and dual Group 2-winning matriarch Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge), whose elite-level descendants include Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal), Magical (Galileo), Rhododendron (Galileo), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact), Photo Call (Galileo) and Victoria Road (Saxon Warrior). Bloomfield has the unraced 2-year-old filly Blooming Rose (Blue Point) and a yearling colt by Blue Point to come.

 

Saturday, Munich, Germany
GROSSER ALLIANZ PREIS VON BAYERN-G1, €155,000, Munich, 11-8, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:38.13, sf.
1–BAY CITY ROLLER (IRE), 127, c, 3, by New Bay (GB)
                1st Dam: Bloomfield (Ire) (MSW & MGSP-Ire, $136,764), by Teofilo (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Ramona (GB), by Desert King (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Victorious Forever; B-John Connaughton; T-George Scott; J-Adrie de Vries. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & MGSP-Fr, 10-4-4-0, €331,760. *1/2 to Botanical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), MSP-Eng, $152,618. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tiffany (Ire), 129, m, 5, Farhh (GB)–Affinity (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O/B-Elite Racing Club; T-Sir Mark Prescott. €30,000.
3–Rashford (Fr), 132, h, 5, Zarak (Fr)–Randium (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Friedrich Hodel; T-Marian Falk Weissmeier. €15,000.
Margins: 7, 4, HF. Odds: 10.60, 5.90, 39.50.
Also Ran: Lazio (Ire), Ami De Vega (Ire), Junko (GB), Convergent (Ire), Cold Heart (Brz). Scratched: Alleno (Ire).

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