August 6, 2017 – Tsunami Diamant (3m Gustav Diamant-Glide Chip) rallied wide in the final bend for Robin Bakker and continued wide to the line as the Paul Hagoort trainee nosed out pacesetter Flying Fortuna (3m Muscles Yankee-Nikita Fortuna) reined by Christoffer Eriksson for harness racing trainer Tomas Malmqvist. Race time was 1.12.6kr over the 1900 meter autostart course that drew 12 starters aiming for the €251,408 purse of the 122nd edition of the Deutsches Traber-Derby. The winner earned €120,704. Ganyboy (3m Ganymede-Leibzig) was third for Thorsten Tietz. Mister Ed Haldia (3m Conway Hall-Lady Heldia) took fourth for Bjorn Goop.
The outstanding Berlin Mariendorf program included the Super Trot Cup 2017 (purse €60,000, 2500 meters autostart, 12 starters) and Lighten Up Today (7g Love You-Celebrate Light) scored for Michael Nimczyk clocked in 1.16kr. This winner recorded his fifth victory in the last six outings. Amazing Dynamite (5m Great Challenger-Kibo Dynamite) was second for Ken Ecce ahead of Springfield reined by Christoffer Eriksson.
Two year-olds contested the Breeders Course (purse €40,000, 1900 meters autostart) with Ze Doca (2g Self Possessed-Pandora Degli Dei) winning by three lengths timed in 1.16.2kr. Davide Nuti teamed this one for Italian trainer Holger Ehlert. Nonas Kiss (2f Muscle Hill-Sparkling) earned second place for trainer/driver Christian Lindhardt, the trainer of yesterday’s Derby Filly winner.
Four-year olds battled in the 2016 Derby Maturity (purse €25,000. 1900 meters autostart, seven male starters). The five-length winner was Orlando Jet (4m Orlando Vici-Chicolina) timed in 1.11.6kr for trainer/driver Rudolf Haller and Stall Team Neuhof. This classy performer now has four wins in his last six including one at Paris-Vincennes on June 25. Muscle Boy AS (4m Muscle Hill-Zelda Per) took second for Gerhard Mayr. Earlier the Filly Maturity drew seven starters going 1900 meters autostart for a €8,000 purse. Gilda Newport scored for trainer/driver Dion Tesselaar clocked in 1.12.8kr. The Ready Cash-Harriet Frido mare Noble Dolly was second for Cees Kamminga, also her trainer.
Mid-program was highlighted by the Trotting Derby Consolation (purse €20,000, 1900 meters autostart) and what a race it was. Jean-Pierre Dubois was a head winner with his owned and bred Classic Connection (3m Love You-Crys Dream-Taurus Dream) timed in 1.12.8kr with a sharp effort. He raced parked to the halfway point and then was on top thereafter. But, a parked out Mac Smily (3m Brioni-Smily) was left just short on the line for legendary Heinz Wewering and trainer Christian Lindhardt. The winner, from a black-type mare that won over US$840,000, recorded his second 2017 win to go with two seconds in a brief career (seven starts). He was unraced at age two.
Not to be outdone for the highlights, the veteran Banks (8g Abano As-Brisana) took the €15,000 purse Askania Derby Record Mile (1609 meters, ten starters) clocked in 1.11.4kr. Michael Nimczyk was the winning teamster as this team bested Stan Libuda (6g Beissinger Hanover-Etiana) with Dennis Spangeberg up.
The Berlin Classic Yearling Sale took place Saturday night. The sale topper at €360,000 was hip 52; sold to Lennart Agren, who that day won the Hambletonian on a disqualification with the Ake Svanstedt teamed Perfect Spirit. Agren operates in the US as SRF Stable. This winning bid was a European yearling price record and Matchpoint Pellini is a 3/9/16 foaled colt by Bold Eagle from Prada Pelllini by Yankee Glide. The maternal family has produced Habit (US$171,000), Habitat, Habits Lady and the durable Take My Picture.
Thomas H. Hicks