Today’s (July 26th) excellent Berlin-Mariendorf card featured four GermanTrotting Derby eliminations for the August 2 classic, each was raced over the 1900 meter autostart course for a €20,000 purse.
Favorites captured three of the events as summarized below:
Elim 1
Halva Von Haithabu (3m Here Comes Joey-Ada) with Thomas Panschow driving for trainer Holger Neumann and owner Ivic Mijo, recorded his first 2015 victory.
Falcon Dragon by Love You and Ingmar Flevo by Ganymede) were next across the line.
Elim 2
Ferrari Kievitshof (3m Credit Winner-Shes Got It All) the winner for driver Robin Bakker, trainer Paul Hagoort and owner Gerrits Recycling Group.
The winner is undefeated in five career appearances, this a 1.13.6kr win over Tokay by Timberland and Ivo by Turbo Sund.
Elim 3
Cash Hanover (3m Love You-Impasse) was the 1.2/1 odds winner for pilot Thorsten Tietz, trainer Heinz Wilhalm and owner Franck Zickmantel.
The winner scored by a diminishing neck for his fourth victory in five starts.
Nikkei by Muscles Yankee was second ahead of Friendship Newport by Main Wise As.
Cash Hanover
Elim 4
Flashback (3m Expo Bi-Pine Spirit) was an impressive three-quarter length winner after a front stepping trip engineered by Hugo Langeweg for trainer/breeder Arnold J. Mollema and owner Draviet Stables.
Fox Dragon by Goetmals Wood ended second and Raffaelo Diamant by Chocolatier was third.
The winner recorded his third straight victory.
The card also included the €20,000 Charlie Mills Memorial over 1900 meters autostart.
This international test went to front stepping Vrai Lord (6m Meaulnes du Corta-Orelady) for trainer/driver Gerhard Mayr and owner Stall Antonshof. Zorba Oldeson by Love You, Best Well a mare by Love You and Shoemaker by Oscar Schindler SL were across the line second through fourth. Time 1.14.6kr.
The Saturday (July 25) card showcased four Derby Filly eliminations (each €10,000 purse over 1900 meters autostart) and the Monte Derby (purse €20,000 over 1900 meters autostart).
A summary of these contests follows:
Filly Elim 1
Flori Dragon (3f Sam Bourbon-Odilia Dragon) the winner for trainer/driver Malk Esper and owner Dragon Trotters BV.
Filly Elim 2
Gorgeous Love (3f Love You-Georgetown) scored for trainer/driver Rob T. De Vlieger and owner Merwestaal Moer BV.
Filly Elim 3
Indira Bo (3f Revenue-Olivera) won this elim for driver Roland Hulskath, trainer Hans-U Bornmann and owner Stall Habo.
Filly Elim 4
Janske (3f Offshore Dream-Kosmos Queen) took this final elim for trainer/driver Erwin Bot and owner Gerrits Recycling Group.
Monte Derby
Greenspan (5g Oscar Schindler SL-Gravitat) took the victory for Lea Ahokas and owner/trainer Kirsten A. Kleinbrahm timed in 1.13.2kr, just off the 1.13kr record of Prince de Montfort.
Valdenburg was second for Jonathan Carre and trainer Nicolas Raimbeaux, ahead of Armando Kievitshof for Philippe Masschaele up for owner/trainer Henk A.J. Grift.
Next weekend promises to be a special one at Berlin-Mariendorf and includes their annual yearling sale.
Thomas H. Hicks