Racing Around The Globe - July III...

Another episode of Racing Around The Globe! A couple of exciting days are behind us. Highlight was clearly the King George at Ascot. An amazing performance saw the Germans scoring a second victory in a row. If we stay with German racing then a look to Hoppegarten (Berlin) brings us to the fairytale of a young amateur rider, who won a Group 1 by doing it all from the front. South Africa had some great racing on offer as well, with two big Grade 1's and the comeback of Jackson in the winners circle. All this and more in this weeks edition of Racing Around The Globe. Sit back and enjoy some great racing!

Germany: Großer Preis von Berlin - Winner: Nymphea

What a story! A fairytale, romantic and wonderful in a way only horse racing can deliver. The 18 year old amateur rider Dennis Schiergen wins the Großer Preis von Berlin on his mount Nymphea, one of the most important races of the German racing calender. It was not only the fact that he became the first amateur rider ever to win a Group 1 in Europe, which made this story so amazing, but also the way the young jockey executed the instructions given by trainer - and his father - Peter Schiergen in a cool, calm and intelligent fashion. Nymphea made all from the front, leading the field up to 30 lengths, and looked to go way to fast off from the front. In the end the young Schiergen judged it all right, his more experienced jockey colleagues looked like schoolboys in contrast, so that Nymphea won the race comfortably in the end.

Germany: Jump Racing - Winner: Indian Sun

You probably don't see too often jump racing from Germany, as the scene is quite small over there and the races not up to the quality you usually would find in Ireland or the UK. But still here and there there are a couple of races om. Particularly popular are races where the horses have to pass a pond during the race, which is quite spectacular, as happened in this particular race, the Lauf zum Bad Harzburger Seekönig. 

South Africa: Champions Cup - Winner: Jackson

The big horse is back! Jackson won on his second start after break the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 2000 meter at Greyville on Saturday and he did so in really nice style. Jackson was once the favourite for the J&B Met and highly regarded by connections and the general racing public, but couldn't quite fulfil his potential. It's good to see him back and it looks as if the 9f trip is close to his ideal distance as the way he blizzed a strong G1 field can only be described as impressive! 

South Africa: R1,25 Million Gold Cup - Winner: Jeppe's Reef

The seven year old Jeppe's Reef caused a huge upset in the 3.200m long Gold Cup on Saturday. The 25/1 shot didn't have too much form in the book to suggest he would be up to the required standard in this race, but his response to the step up in trip was immense and he wasn't to stop once in the clear. He got the perfect ride by jockey Robbie Fradd, who had his mount in a perfect position throughout the race and ensured Jeppe's Reef  would get a clear run in the closing stages.

Ireland: Tyros Stakes - Winner:  Exogenesis

Two year old  Exogenesis, lightly raced and trained by Ger Lyons, made rapid progress when winning the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday in good style. He travelled really well up to the one furlong marker, but it took him then a while to pass the gutsy long time leader  Home School. The Coventry Stakes 3rd Sir John Hawkins finished only third here as well. 

Ireland: Jockey Club Of Turkey Meld Stakes - Winner: Scintillula

Mars, the early Epsom Derby favourite at this stage last year, disappointed as the clear odds-on favourite in this Group 3. He dropped in class after running with credit in the Guineas, Derby and Eclipse Stakes, but didn't find much when asked for an effort in the closing stages. Instead Irish Oaks 4th Scintillula, who dropped 3f in trip, made all from the front and was not to pass. The Bolger filly is clearly improved and finally shows what a good horse she is as she promised allot when finishing 2nd to Sky Lantern in a Group 1 at the Curragh last September.

France: Grand Prix de Maisons-Laffitte - Winner: Triple Threat

The Andre Fabre trained Triple Threat scores again on Group level. He won the Group 3 Prix la Force at Longchamp earlier this year, ran then 3rd in another G3 and was successful in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Maisons-Laffitte last weekend. He is clearly an improved horse now as a three year old and it would be interesting to see this son of Monsun stepping up to 1m 4f, where more improvement is expected. 

England: King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Winner: Novellist

Novellist followed in the footsteps of Dandedream. The Arc winning filly was a winner of the King George by the narrowest of margins last year. Novellist in contrast, trained in Germany by Andreas Wöhler, won the Mid-Summer highlight very easily this year. Johnny Murtagh gave the four year old a peach of a ride, had him in the right position, and once asked for full effort, the colt wasn't to stop. The biggest problem for Murtagh was to pull Novellist up after the race as he was so full of running that he simply didn't want to stop at all. Novellist who was runners-up in the German Derby last year, landed later in 2012 his first Group 1 with a convincing win in the Gran Premio Del Jockey Club Italiano, started the new season with a Group 2 win at Baden-Baden and followed up with an impressive Group 1 success in France in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, where he beat Cirrus Des Aigles, who was on his comeback run that day. Everyone expected the highest rated horse in training to improve dramatically for this outing, but that didn't happen, and neither the Irish Derby winner Trading Leather nor the rapidly improving Stoute colt Hillstar were able to match the turn of foot of Novellist. He's now the new favourite for the Arc in October.

Special video: Tribute to St Nicholas Abbey

It was a huge tragedy this week when it emerged that St Nicholas Abbey suffered a nasty injury during a routine piece of work. His racing career was suddenly over, while preparing for the King George. An intensive and long surgery was needed to save him, which resulted in a positive outcome. Unfortunately St Nic subsequently suffered from a colic and another surgery was required. Thankfully the six year old is a real fighter and he pulled through. He is now on a long road to full recovery and we all from Horseracing -International . COM wish him all the best for tough challenge. Fingers crossed!