Iffezheim Cracker

At 4.00 this afternoon the Iffezheim racecourse, in the picturesque German town of Baden-Baden, hosts its biggest race of the season, the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden, sponsored by Longines. A popular tourist destination, Baded-Baden is just 20km east of the mighty Rhein river which marks the French border, and about 150km north of Zurich. It's gentle slopes and mild climate produce some of the best German wines and here's what one tourism guide writes of Baden-Baden:

"From Queen Victoria to the Vanderbilts, from Bismarck to Brahms and Berlioz, they all came to Baden-Baden – the royal, the rich, the renowned and the moneyed wannabees – to take the waters or lose their fortunes in the casino. Today Baden-Baden, at the foot of the Black Forest, is the grande dame of German spas, ageing but still elegant. Sophisticated yet relaxed, it offers a belle époque townscape of palatial villas, stately hotels, tree-lined avenues, groomed parks and chic boutiques. Many of the most delightful activities, such as strolling, are free, and even the famous spas don’t necessarily require deep pockets to enjoy (at one of them, deep pockets are banned entirely)."

Today's race sees last year's winner and Arc Heroine, Danedream, take on two highly regarded 3YO colts in Novellist and Pastorius. 12 months ago, few of us had even heard of Danedream. Peter Schiergen's filly had a rather inconspicuous 2YO career, finishing 6 lengths behind Misty For Me in the Prix Marcel Boussac and her 3YO campaign was centered around Italy, where she finished 3rd in the Derby before taking the Oaks in impressive fashion by more than 6 lengths. She went to my local track Hoppergarten in the summer and took the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin by 5 lengths (Dandino and Cavalryman both well beaten) before recording another wide margin victory in the Grosser Preis von Baden and getting the supplementary Arc entry. The rest, as they say, is history. She had looked a bit in and out this season but produced a superb effort to take the King George from Nathaniel and is clearly right back to her best. She may well need to be today.

Novellist, from the powerful yard of Andreas Wöhler, has tasted defeat just once in his career. He won his maiden in Stuttgart last August by 8 lengths and was pitched straight into Group 3 company for his first start this season. The result was the same - a 6 length demolition job on All Shamar, himself a listed winner as a 2YO and a subsequent Group 3 winner. Novellist followed up with a 5 length victory in a Group 2 race in Cologne before going to Hamburg for the Group 1 German Derby as a hot 4/6 fav. But he ran into Pastorius.

Pastorius took 3 races to get off the mark as a 2YO, finally landing a maiden at Baden. His run in this years German 2000 Guineas, where he finished 7th of 9 behind Caspar Netscher, did little to boost his reputation, and he went to the German Derby as a 25/1 outsider. As they came into the straight Novellist started what looked like a race-winning run down the centre of the track but Pastorius came down the stands side in glorious isolation and collared Novellist on the line. Perhaps Pastorius had a slightly less troubled run up the straight but there was no doubting his superiority at the line. Pastorius has since followed up in Munich, taking the Group 1 Dallmayr Preis from seasoned international performers such as Durban Thunder and Zazou by an ever-widening 8 length margin on soft ground over 10 furlongs.

Of the 3, Danedream clearly has the form in the book but today's race over 12 furlongs looks tailor made for Pastorius, a resolute stayer who eats up the ground with his relentless gallop.

Whatever the outcome it is sure to be a cracking renewal and the winner will likely be pushing for favouritism in the confused Arc betting. Danedream is currently 6/1 second fav for the Longchamp showpiece but both Novellist and Pastorius are available at 25/1.

 

Gents

Racing Post have it as Good-Soft Swanny

I agree if it is proper good racing ground the filly will take some beating.

 

I used to use Racebets alot Swanny, very good

The only thing that used to annoy me was that you couldn't take a price on most races and had to settle for SP. Nice when the horse drifts but annoying when it shortens and wins.Excellent coverage they offer though

 

On rather loose, tacky ground Danedream takes it by about 3/4 length from surprise package Ovambo Queen in 2nd and Pastorius just a neck down in 3rd. She was always doing enough tbh and Pastorius, despite looking the biggest threat 2 out, couldn't close her down. Novellist well beaten behind.