Europe
Goliath dominates the Preis Von Europa, global targets await
By Tom Frary
Returning to his native land for only the second time in his career on Sunday, Goliath (Adlerflug) showed his class to dominate Cologne's G1 Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung Preis von Europa.
As he had in last year's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, Resolute Bloodstock and Philip Baron Von Ullmann's flagbearer lorded it over Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) to register a seventh Group success and a third at this level with the 2024 King George his magnum opus.
Always tanking in Christophe Soumillon's hands in front, the 1-2 favourite even ran off the home bend to give his rivals a glimmer of hope before dashing that with his trademark surge to score by one and three quarter lengths. William Haggas's similarly-decorated globetrotter was in turn half a length ahead of last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Hochkonig (Polish Vulcano) in third.
“He loved the track and conditions were perfect for him,” Soumillon said. “I let him go to the front and he changed leads quickly on the turns apart from being a bit out on the last one, but when I asked him to quicken he responded really strongly. I don't know what is next, but with him you never know–you can dream.”
“I don't know what is next, but with him (Goliath) you never know–you can dream.” - Christophe Soumillo
Francis Graffard added, “he is such a lovely horse–the pet of the stable, everybody loves him and he is world-famous now. It was very nice to see him win so easily today, he doesn't like being dictated to and when I saw him with his ears pricked in front I thought he was going to run a nice race like when he won the King George two years ago. It's good for his mind that he has won again.
“He has lots of options around the world and will travel either East or West, so we'll see how he is. He did well in Hong Kong last year, so that's a possibility.”
Francis Graffard | Image courtesy of Francis Graffard Racing
Pedigree notes: Goliath's Listed-winning dam Gouache (Shamardal) is a half-sister to the triple Group winner Guardini (Dalakhani) and granddaughter of the G2 Oaks d'Italia heroine Guadalupe (Monsun) who produced the Group 1 winners Guignol (Cape Cross) and Guiliani (Tertullian) and is the ancestress of this year's G3 Diana Trial winner Gua Lipa (Cloth Of Stars).
Also connected to Monsun's dual Group 1 winner Getaway and the G1 Gold Cup hero Royal Rebel (Robellino), Gouache also has the unraced 2-year-old filly Glory Of Legend (Blackbeard) and a yearling filly by Baaeed who sells on Monday at Goffs Orby Book 1.
Japan
Puro Magic casts a spell over Sprinters Stakes rivals
The thriving Puro Magic (Asia Express) led from pillar to post to cause a mild upset when making her Group 1 breakthrough in Sunday's Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama, with Classic heroine Star Anise (Drefong) running a race full of promise on her return from a four-month absence to finish on the heels of the leaders.
Breaking widest of all in gate 16, Puro Magic was sent straight to the front by Mirai Iwata and soon established a three-length lead over her 15 rivals. Though challenged by World's End (Lord Kanaloa) and Sound Moryana (Mikki Isle) inside the final furlong, the 5-year-old kept responding to get the verdict by a neck, with Sound Moryana just a nose further back in third.
Star Anise, the winner of the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas), before seemingly failing to stay in the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), made rapid late headway to pass the post just a length and a half behind the winner in fourth.
“I was a bit worried about the ground conditions but, thanks to her ability and speed, we were able to take the lead. She was more composed than in her last race and managed to hang on in the stretch,” said Iwata, who was registering his second top-level win in Japan after that of Arma Veloce in the 2024 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
It was also a second for trainer Shogo Yasuda, who previously struck in the 2024 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with Danon Decile.
Puro Magic, meanwhile, arrived at Nakayama as a five-time Group winner, notably having won June's G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes, before following up at Niigata in August when winning the G3 Ibis Summer Dash for the second consecutive year. She posted another creditable effort earlier this month when runner-up in the G2 Centaur Stakes behind Flicker Jab (Saturnalia), who was among the market leaders for this Group 1 but could manage only 12th.
Pedigree notes: Puro Magic becomes the first top-level winner for her sire, Asia Express, who enjoyed his finest hour on the racecourse when winning the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in 2013. He is based at the Yushun Stallion Station, with the G3 Leopard Stakes hero Don In The Mood featuring among his other notable progeny.
The dam, Medjerda (Deep Impact), who ran her best race when filling the runner-up spot in the G3 Fantasy Stakes, has produced three winners from five runners thus far, with Puro Magic the first to gain black type. This is also the family of the Canadian Horse of the Year and sire Peteski.
Australian mares get exciting winners
Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American) is already the dam of Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island (Duramente) and on the weekend, her exciting 3-year-old filly Coney Island (Contrail) added another victory to her tally.
Yankee Rose's 2-year-old Danon Dax (Saturnalia) has placed already this season, and she has a yearling filly by Horse Of The Year Equinox. Her weanling colt by Kitasan Black sold for ¥451,000,000 (AU$4.1 million) to M's Racing at this year's JRA Select Yearling & Foal Sale.
G1 Victoria Oaks winner Pinot (Pierro) also showed up on the results chart with stakes placed 3-year-old colt Black Olympia (Kitasan Black) adding an impressive victory over 2400 metres. Pinot's first two foals were born in Australia and are both winners, and Black Olympia is her first Japanese born progeny.
Pinot's Australian foals are $130,000 Clarendon 2YO Stakes winner Burgunder (Snitzel) and Harvest Moon (The Autumn Sun), who was fourth in the G3 Auraria Stakes. She has a 2-year-old filly, Eden Valley (Kizuna), trained by Koshiro Take.
