German Oaks In Visitors' Sights

Godolphin, Coolmore only foreign raiders chasing down elusive Group 1 Preis der Diana

- Michael Lee

Contrary to the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen run in Munich last Sunday, the Preis der Diana has lived up better to that German cliché of an impregnable fortress.

In 166 runnings of the Dusseldorf Group 1 filly 2,200m race also known as the German Oaks, only two overseas horses have cracked the stronghold, both from their Anglo-Saxon cousins in England, William Haggas with Dancing Rain in 2011 and John Gosden with Miss Yoda in 2020.

On the other hand, the other Group 1 event over 2,000m - also referred to as the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis - has been easier pickings for international raiders in the last quarter of its 159-year-long history, with Godolphin's Tornado Alert the eighth to wrest the trophy away in the last decade, on July 27.

On Aug 3, the foreign invasion will be led by only two horses, hailing from the two usual suspects Coolmore and Godolphin - Garden Of Eden and Spirited Style.

A three-pronged attack on the €500,000 ($743,000) feature was on the cards until a lone entry from France, Kiamba for Chantilly-based Italian trainer Mario Baratti, was scratched.

Quantity from abroad has again gone missing, but the remaining duo still ooze quality.