Dr. Christoph Berglar's Novellist confirmed his status as the best older horse in Europe with a smooth and popular success in the G1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden last Sunday in Iffezheim. Fourth behind two-time Horse of the Year Danedream in last year's edition of Baden-Baden's premier event, the 4-year-old son of Monsun maintained his perfect 2013 record before a crowd of 16,900. He assumed the front shortly after the start and led past the stands for the first time before conceding the advantage to stablemate Seismos on the backstretch. As the compact field fanned out turning for home, the 1-6 favorite quickened up smartly under Eduardo Pedroza and was never seriously threatened in the final furlong (replay). He will now head to Paris for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Oct. 6, and will surely pose a formidable threat to highly regarded 3-year-olds Flintshire and Treve. Sunday's victory was his third straight at the top level following scores in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June and the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. July 27. Novellist stormed home a five-length winner of the King George and lowered Ascot's course record to 2:24.60.
"It feels good," Berglar said on Sunday. "But I am extremely relieved, because the trainer [Andreas Wohler] told me the horse was on 85% [fit] for the race. It is a balancing act, you know, to develop a horse and then to have reserves for the next race.
"It was a bit like a penalty kick," Berglar added. "Because you can get to that point, only to miss the goal."
Only four horses lined up against the heavy favorite, but Berglar was not fazed by possible tactics.
"It was not a worry for me, but perhaps for [jockey] Eddie [Pedroza]," Berglar quipped. "Ascot was more exhausting."
As for his colorbearer's chances in the Arc, Berglar added, "Yes, of course we are confident, but it has been outsiders for the past few years. At some point, it won't be an outsider and, hopefully, that will be us."
Johnny Murtagh piloted the colt in the King George, but was prevented from riding him in the Iffezheim feature due to the fact that he also holds a trainer's license, which is not permitted in Germany. While Pedroza proved an able substitute last Sunday, Berglar indicated that Murtagh would be back in Novellist's saddle in the Arc.
The Grosser Preis von Baden is the highlight of Baden-Baden's "Grosse Woche," or Great Festival Week, which includes numerous social events like the Grand Prix Ball, as well as the BBAG Yearling Sale. Novellist appeared in that nearby auction ring three years ago, but was led out unsold at 100,000 euros. He is the first stakes winner from the Lagunas mare Night Lagoon, who was Germany's highweighted 2-year-old filly in 2003. She hails from a family nurtured for several generations by Berglar, who was happy to retain Novellist and campaign him in his yellow-and-blue colors. Novellist was foaled in Ireland because his dam was booked to Dalakhani in 2009, but his pedigree is as German as they come. Berglar purchased Narola, Novellist's third dam, as a yearling at BBAG in 1990, and the Nebos filly went on to produce three stakes winners. In 2011, Berglar acquired Stonereath Stud in Paris, Kentucky, and his son Peter oversees the operation. Night Lagoon is one of the broodmares now residing in the Bluegrass State. She foaled a Manduro filly in February and was bred back to Bernardini. Also slated to join the Berglar broodmare band next year is Emma's Encore, a 4-year-old daughter of Congrats who won the GI Prioress S. and GIII Victory Ride S. in 2012.
Novellist's sire Monsun died in 2012 at the age of 22, but he had risen to the top of the European stallion ranks with a steady stream of top-class performers. He has been represented by four Group 1 winners this year. In addition to Novellist, they include Estimate, who captured Ascot's G1 Gold Cup for Her Majesty The Queen; Maxios, winner of the G1 Prix d'Ispahan for his breeders, the Niarchos family; and Silasol, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred heroine of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary. His penultimate crop of yearlings has been in demand in auction rings this season. Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency secured a 650,000 colt at Arqana in August on behalf of a Chinese investor; the yearling was produced by Sandy Girl (Footstepsinthesand), a half-sister to Monsun's champion and multi-millionaire Stacelita. Three sons of the late stallion were offered at last Friday's BBAG Sale, with Darley signing the tickets on two of them, a Gestut Karlshof-consigned son of Sasuela (Dashing Blade) for 360,000 euros and a 300,000-euros colt out of Katy Carr (Machiavellian) from the Gestut Brummerhof draft.
Berglar bought only one youngster at BBAG, but it was one of the choicest lots available on the grounds, and required a winning bid of 210,000 euros. Offered by Andreas Jacobs' Gestut Fahrhof, the handsome Dansili colt was produced by Avec Amour (Sadler's Wells), a half-sister to 1998 Arc hero Sagamix (Linamix).
The BBAG Sale was topped by a 390,000-euros filly purchased by agent Emmanuel de Seroux on behalf of a Japanese client. From the second crop of Wiesenpfad (Waky Nao), the bay filly stood out on looks alone in the walking ring, and has the bottom side to back up her appearance. She is the latest foal from German champion Saldentigerin (Tiger Hill), whose daughter Salomina (Lomitas) earned championship honors herself following her victory in the 2012 G1 Preis der Diana. While Wiesenpfad is not well known outside of Germany to date, that may change soon enough. The French-bred grandson of Alzao was a multiple Group 3 winner for owner Heide Harzheim, and Abendwind, a member of his first small crop, captured the G3 Zukunfts-Rennen two days prior to the BBAG Sale.
Like every other racing country, Germany has seen the number of registered foals drop in the last few years. According to German Thoroughbred Marketing, 859 foals were born in 2012, and low domestic purses make it difficult for runners to pay their way. However, the lack of numbers is offset by the quality of German pedigrees. In 2011, Team Valor's Animal Kingdom--a son of the Acatenango mare Dalicia--made headlines when he posted an authoritative win in the GI Kentucky Derby. A few months later, Heiko Volz and Teruya Yoshida's Danedream became the toast of Europe when she became only the second German-trained winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Volz had snapped her up for just 9,000 euros at the BBAG Breeze-Up Sale in 2010. Danedream was voted Germany's Horse of the Year following her sophomore exploits, and received the same honor for 2012 after she prevailed over a first-rate field in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot and repeated her success in the Grosser Preis von Baden.
Racing has been conducted near Baden-Baden since 1858, when Frenchman Edouard Benazet--who also ran the town's famed casino--established the racecourse in the nearby village of Iffezheim. The "Grosse Woche" is the annual highlight for Baden Racing, which schedules no fewer than 10 black-type races at the Iffezheim racecourse during the festival week.
"There is a great tradition of racing here," said Andreas Jacobs, president of Baden Racing. "Having the sale here too is most important, because people can come for both."
The spa town of Baden-Baden, situated in the southwest corner of Germany near the borders of France and Switzerland, became popular as a destination for the European aristocracy during the 18th century. The lavish casino, luxury hotels and the serene gardens of the Lichtentaler Allee underscore its native elegance.
If you want to see world-class horses in action on the racecourse--and have the chance to buy a future star--a trip to this storied locale is well worth the time.
