Bavarian Classic Afterparty - Derby Dozen II (English version)
- Luis Kimmel
- 13. Mai
- 16 Min. Lesezeit
Aktualisiert: 13. Mai
In the Derby Dozen, I regularly take a look at the G1 IDEE 156th German Derby, which will be held at Hamburg on 6 July. There are currently 63 colts and fillies still registered for the race for the Blue Riband.
Just under six weeks have passed since the last edition - enough time for a lot to have happened: New talents have come to the fore with strong debuts, while other names have disappeared from the spotlight. I have re-analysed all the horses that have started so far and are still involved in the Derby and compiled a fresh Power Ranking. As usual, only the sporting potential of the horses counts - regardless of whether they will actually take part in the Derby.
The first major trial, the G3 WETTSTAR.de - Bavarian Classic, has been decided - and with the winner PATH OF SOLDIER (Soldier Hollow), is the new favourite in the betting markets for the Derby. In the first edition of the Derby Dozen, Path Of Soldier was placed ninth.
Please not that this article was first published in german last Saturday (May 10th). This is the translation of the original german article.
1 - TENNESSEE STUD
Wootton Bassett x In My Dreams (Sadler's Wells)
Owner: Coolmore & Westerberg
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Breeder: Ann Marie O'Brien
Odds: 30/1
OR: 110
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 1
Tennessee Stud is still the only Group 1 winner among the 63 Derby entries. Do I think he will start in Hamburg on 6 July? Absolutely not. But as I said: The Derby Dozen is not about starting probabilities, but exclusively about talent. And the Wotton Bassett son has plenty of that.
He celebrated his maiden win in his second lifetime start at Tipperary by a confident 2¼ lengths over SHACKLETON (Camelot), who was later placed in a Group 3. His strongest career performance, however, was probably in the G2 Beresford Stakes when a close second to HOTAZHELL (Too Darn Hot), who was subsequently successful at Group 1 level himself.
Tennessee Stud's victory in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud has to be categorised somewhat, however - only three horses started. Tennessee Stud prevailed over GREEN STORM (Circus Maximus) on soft ground, but showed clear reserves over the 2000 metre course. The 2400 metres in the Derby should therefore suit him easily. Green Storm has already run in the 2025, but disappointed a little at listed level.
Trainer Joseph O'Brien thinks highly of Tennessee Stud. They are very pleased with his development over the winter - he is said to have improved greatly, especially physically. He learnt a lot last year on different tracks and ground conditions, which should now stand him in good stead. Tennessee Stud also still holds an entry for the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas.
As expected, the G1 Epsom Derby is the big target for Tennessee Stud. This was confirmed by Joseph O'Brien's racing manager Kevin Blake when I asked him back in March. He is currently listed at odds of around 50-1 for the English classic.
2 - LAZY GRIFF
Protectionist x Linarda (Rock Of Gibraltar)
Owner: Middleham Park Racing & G. Griffiths
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Breeder: Gestüt Westerberg
Odds: 25/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 75.000€
OR: 105
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 2
The reason why this edition of the Derby Dozen is being published a little later than planned lies with him: Lazy Griff ran to a strong second place in the G3 Chester Vase on Wednesday - and that after a 228-day break. A very strong performance by the son of Protectionist, who we had already presented in second place in the last Derby Dozen.
Although Lazy Griff is not trained for a German owner, he was bred by german Gestüt Westerberg. His own-brother LAMBO surprisingly won the G3 Bavarian Classic in 2021. Lazy Griff himself was already very active in 2024 and was the best two-year-old of the Melbourne Cup winner PROTECTIONIST (Monsun) by rating.
He celebrated his first victory in his third start at Beverley, but already impressed on his debut with a second place behind WOLF OF BADENOCH (Pinatubo), who later placed in the G2 Vintage Stakes. Lazy Griff secured his first Blacktype in a strong listed race at Deauville. Among others, he left SILIUS (Dubawi) behind, who had already won twice in 2025, including the Prix de la Californie (L). Most recently, he placed at Group 3 level.
Lazy Griff finished 2024 with a win in the G3 Prix de Conde, where he won start-finish. The second-placed GEZORA (Almanzor) also went on to win a group race in her next start. Gezora also won last Sundays G2 Prix Saint-Alary.
Now the strong comeback in Chester. Despite the long break, Lazy Griff was able to put down a real marker and was only beaten by Coolmore representative LAMBOURN (Australia). The latter had already run in the G3 Ballysax Stakes at the end of March, where he finished second behind his stable mate DELACROIX (Dubawi). In Chester, he put 1.5 lengths between himself and the German-bred Lazy Griff.
Lazy Griff is now heading for the Epsom Derby. After that, all doors are open to him. He has been entered for almost all the big races: G1 Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and he even appears on the entry list for the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden. Whether we will see him at Hamburg remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: this is the best german-bred three-year-old in2025!
3 - LIFETIMES
Gleneagles x La Petite Virginia (Königstiger)
Owner: Stall Hanse
Trainer: Peter Schiergen
Breeder: Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof
Odds: 15/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 85.000€
OR: 108
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 4
Lifetimes is the first German representative to appear in my ranking - and with high expectations. Last year's champion two-year-old (together with Lazio) has a OR of 108 and has remained unbeaten in two starts. The Gleneagles son impressed in his debut when he won by ten lengths. Things then got really serious in the G3 WETTSTAR.de - Preis des Winterfavoriten, in which he confidently prevailed against good opponents such as the French guest THINK GIANT (Lope De Vega) and SERIENADLER (Gleneagles). This performance is also regarded as a solid international reference.
As a two-year-old, Lifetimes has done everything right - which makes it all the more exciting to look forward to his next appearance. And that's exactly what we've been waiting for. He was long considered for the G3 Bavarian Classic, but did not compete. This led to speculation, which trainer Peter Schiergen immediately defused: Lifetimes was not injured, he said, they simply wanted to let him start later. He will now make his 3yo debut in the G3 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp. He has also been entered for the G2 Sparkasse KölnBonn - 190th Union-Rennen in June at Cologne. So there is still enough time to confirm my confidence in him.
So far, it is difficult to categorise him accurately in comparison to the candidates who have already run in 2025. Because he is not the only one who has not run so far. The runners-up from the G3 Winterfavorit have also not been seen on the racetrack. But one thing is clear: Lifetimes has talent, pedigree and the right environment. His half-sister LA PETITE COCO (Rule Of The World) won a G1 race in Ireland over 2000 metres and was also placed at the highest level over 2400 metres - behind top fillies such as ALPINISTA (Frankel) and TUESDAY (Galileo). Lifetime's sire GLENEAGLES (Galileo) sired the Derby winner at Hamburg in 2024 - so the conditions could hardly be better.
If he stays healthy and gets into his stride as announced, he will be a hot Derby contender.
4 - NEW GROUND
New Bay x Gaining (American Post)
Owner: Juddmonte
Trainer: Henri-Francois Devin
Breeder: Juddmonte
Odds: 30/1
OR: 107
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 3
With New Ground, another prominent international representative remains at the top of the Derby Dozen, even if his clean slate is now history. The New Bay son has already impressed twice at Blacktype level in 2025 - each time with a third place.
He made his seasonal debut in the G3 Prix la Force at Longchamp, crossing the line just a length behind the winner CUALIFICAR (Lope De Vega). The latter is unbeaten so far in 2025 and also won the G3 Prix de Guiche afterwards - so his form is absolutely resilient. At the next start, a listed race over 2000 metres at Chantilly, New Ground again finished third. Although the Prix de Suresnes only belongs to the listed class, the opposition was by no means weaker than before: AZIMPOUR (Dubawi), the runner-up from the Prix la Force, remained behind him this time.
Although New Ground has never raced over more than 2000 metres, his combative nature and pedigree suggest that 2400 metres could also be within reach. He has also been entered for the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over the classic distance. Nevertheless, his focus is clearly on the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, for which he will have to improve again if he wants to be in contention for victory.
Hamburg? Remains rather unlikely. Neither owner nor trainer are known to start in Germany. But if he turns up, New Ground would definitely be a serious contender.
5 - PATH OF SOLDIER
Soldier Hollow x Path Wind (Anabaa)
Owner: Gestüt Park Wiedingen
Trainer: Peter Schiergen
Breeder: Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof
Odds: 10/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 64.000€
OR: 109
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 9
The half-brother of reigning Derby winner PALLADIUM (Gleneagles) continues to attract attention. Since coming ninth in the first Derby Dozen, Path Of Soldier has clearly moved up the field with a convincing victory in the G3 Bavarian Classic. He impressively won the first major derby trial of the year, leaving the previously unbeaten Group 2 winner LAZIO (Make Believe) in second. Particularly noteworthy: It was his first start of the year.
Although he was not the first choice of stable jockey Sibylle Vogt, his performance left little doubt that the Soldier Hollow-son is a really good horse. In Munich, he was able to step up time and again and countered every attack. He is now at the top of the Derby betting market at prices of around 10/1.
Path Of Soldier still has two starting options before the Derby: the G3 Derby Trial at Baden-Baden and the G2 Union-Rennen at Cologne. The latter was won by Gestüt Park Wiedingen - whose colours Path Of Soldier wears - in 2022 with SAMMARCO (Camelot), who later also won the Derby.
6 - AQUAMAN
Cracksman x Auctorita (Authorized)
Owner: Liberty Racing 2023 Australia
Trainer: Henk Grewe
Breeder: Gestüt Karlshof
Odds: 15/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 100.000€
OR: 106
Position in the last Derby Dozen: didn't race yet
In the last Derby Dozen I had Aquaman in the section ‘Interesting derby candidates whose debut is still pending’. The commentary read ‘Liberty Racing's new number one?’. Aquaman impressed on his debut. He easily left such good horses as EAGLE EMBLEM (Sea The Moon), HOCHKÖNIG (Polish Vulcano) and DELGARDO (Best Solution) behind at Cologne. This form was subsequently upgraded. Two of the three horses mentioned, who were behind Aquaman at Cologne, won at the next start. Eagle Emblem at Munich and Delgardo at Cologne. The aforementioned Hochkönig finished second.
The Liberty Racing galloper made his second career start in the G3 Bavarian Classic. There he still looked very green under Leon Wolff. When it came to the 400 metre mark, he even snapped at ABANDO (Adlerflug). Nevertheless, I liked the run. Aquaman has one thing in common with Liberty Racing's first Derby winner FANTASTIC MOON (Sea The Moon). The two-time galloper of the year also finished third in the G3 Bavarian Classic.
With regard to the 2400 metres required at Hamburg, I'm not at all worried about Aquaman. His dam was listed placed over 2000 metres and his half-brother ARAM (Counterattack) was placed several times in the class 1 handicaps over 2200 metres. His sire is the Frankel-son CRACKSMAN, who produced a winner in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2023 with ACE IMPACT. Cracksman himself was placed in the G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby. He also won the G1 Coronation Cup over 2400 metres.
Voting was possible on the GaloppDaily Insta-Story at the end of April. "Who is Liberty Racing's best?" 62% voted in favour of Aquaman.
7 - ENZIAN
Zarak x Eloge (Galileo)
Owner: Eckhard Sauren
Trainer: Henk Grewe
Breeder: Gestüt Röttgen
Odds: 25/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 160.000€
OR: 77
Position in the last Derby Dozen: didn't race yet
Enzian is certainly one of the best-bred derby candidates. Nothing needs to be said about ZARAK (Dubawi), who has produced three Group 1 winners to date. Enzian's second dam won the G1 German Oaks for Röttgen. Her son ENERGICO (Duramente) is still unbeaten in Japan and is one of the favourites for the Derby there. Of course, the family also includes champion two-year-old ERASMUS, the 2024 German Oaks winner ERLE (both Reliable Man) and the top seller of the 2023 BBAG Yearling Sale, ELEGANZ (Adlerflug), who fetched €300,000 in Iffezheim. Eckhard Sauren won the bid for Enzian for just over half that amount. The prominently bred Zarak son was first seen at the wire on 01 May. At Hanover, he easily prevailed in a race with no winners at all. His lifetime debut was over 2200 metres, so the question of his stamina was answered immediately. Thore Hammer Hansen rode Enzian from the back of the field and had to call him on every now and then. But when it came down to the wire, he put in an impressive effort and easily broke clear by 1.5 lengths in the end. The experienced ZAFIRELLI (Study Of Man) followed in second place. He was only a head behind ZAUBERKÖNIG (Teofilo) and 2.25 lengths ahead of ABANDO (Adlerflug) in his last start. These two now stand at ORs of 104 and probably 101. KOLUMBAN (Best Solution) followed in fourth place behind Enzian at Hanover. Four weeks earlier he was 2.75 lengths behind ZUCKERHUT (Almanzor). Zuckerhut has a OR of 104 after his fourth place in the G3 Bavarian Classic.
There is a lot to be said in favour of the Zarak-son and if he develops as expected, his current derby odds of 25/1 could be very attractive.
8 - AMICO
Camelot x Anna Katharina (Kallisto)
Owner: Liberty Racing 2023 Australia
Trainer: Henk Grewe
Breeder: Gestüt Röttgen
Odds: 250:10
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 180.000€
OR: -
Position in the last Derby Dozen: didn't race yet
Liberty Racing was not even represented in the first Derby Dozen and now the second galloper follows in this edition. I really liked Amico on his debut. In the long term, I wouldn't be surprised if he is even a bit better than his stable mate Aquaman. Like Aquaman, Amico is also part of the Liberty Racing Australia syndicate. The website states: ‘Focus on the classic potential of horses for the Derby and for Australia.’ The focus during the purchase was clearly on the stamina required for races such as the G1 Melbourne Cup. Amico already showed at his debut a few weeks ago that 2400 metres in the Derby would not be a problem for him. He made up ground on the winner QUINTO (Soldier Hollow) with every metre and also made a big impression with a second place. Of course, it has to be said that Amico was allowed to carry a whole 3kg less than the Gestüt Park Wiedingen owned Quinto. On the other hand went Quinto into the race with racing experience. Amico still has to qualify for the German Derby. Of course, he has not yet received an OR after his first race. Calculated over Quinto and DÜX (Best Solution), Amico would probably get a rating a little under 80 at the moment, but that's not enough for a Derby start. Amico has been entered for maiden races this weekend. After that, a start in the Union could be on the cards for the Liberty Racing galloper. The reigning Derby winner PALLADIUM (Gleneagles) was fourth in this race in 2024.
9 - LAZIO
Make Believe x La Caldera (Hernando)
Owner: Stall Lucky Owner
Trainer: Waldemar Hickst
Breeder: Roland Lerner
Odds: 13/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 30.000€
OR: 108
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 12
In the meantime, the champion two-year-old (together with Lifetimes) Lazio has also been competing again. He made his seasonal debut in the G3 Bavarian Classic at Munich over 2000 metres. As usual, he was ridden from the back of the field and on the home straight he looked like a possible winner for a long time coming from the outside. But when things got serious, he simply couldn't get past Path Of Soldier. However, the performance was certainly good enough for the first start of the season. He has now climbed up three places in my ranking. But I'm still not really warming to him - and I'm slowly running out of arguments. Compared to the two Stall Lucky Owner representatives from the previous year, AUGUSTUS (Soldier Hollow) and WINTERTRAUM (Lord Of England), Lazio simply seems weaker to me, especially with regard to the Derby distance.
On paper, it seems that Lazio is a tad better than his stablemates from the previous year. Personally, I have my doubts as to whether he is really as good as his high mark of 108 suggests. He already got this mark two years ago when he won the G2 Gran Criterium in Italy by an impressive eight lengths. But I look at the German forms and so far he has not shown more than 102. In Hanover he won a Listed race over 1600 metres as a two-year-old just ahead of NAME LORD (Lord Of England). Today, Name Lord has a rating of 95. In the Bavarian Classic he was the only starter with an OR of over 80. It is questionable whether that was really 1008 at Munich. But you can certainly give him credit for the fact that LAO TZU (Kodiac), who finished fourth behind him at Milan in 2025, is still unbeaten. He won the G3 Premio Parioli Hid Italian 2000 Guineas at the end of April. Lao Tzu now stands at a GAG of 109.
10 - ZAUBERKÖNIG
Teofilo x Zarzali (Hussonet)
Owner: Liberty Racing 2023 Kings
Trainer: Peter Schiergen
Breeder: Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof
Odds: 20/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 165.000€
OR: 104
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 25
Italian form should be treated with caution, but the manner in which Zauberkönig won at Milan was without question more than respectable. The Liberty Racing galloper broke clear by seven lengths in the Premio Emanuele Filiberto. Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten's syndicate had already won this race two years ago with WINNING SPIRIT (Soldier Hollow). He later finished fourth in the German Derby. At that time, however, the Filiberto was still a listed race. The race has since lost this status. In his latest blog post, Germanys head handicapper Harald Siemen writes about Zauberkönig's success: ‘My Italian colleague Marco Trentini assured me that the horses placed behind him are capable of at least 92OR and set Zauberkönig a very respectable mark of 104, which I have now adopted.’ I'm not a handicapper, but in Germany he first has to confirm this mark for me. He recently had a narrow victory against Zafirelli, who then clearly lost to Enzian. In the long term, I have no doubt that Zauberkönig is at least a 104OR horse. I have more doubts as to whether his opponents at Milan really are ‘at least 92OR horses’. Be that as it may, with Zauberkönig Liberty Racing now has three horses in the second Derby Dozen, so a third success in a row in the German Derby cannot be ruled out. For the Teofilo son, however, it is now off to the G2 Italian Derby. The aforementioned Winning Spirit came second in this race in 2023.
11 - DELGARDO
Best Solution x Delegation (Mount Nelson)
Owner: Stall Bergholz
Trainer: Andreas Wöhler
Breeder: Barbara Holubova
Odds: 20/1
Price BBAG-Yearling Sale: 43.000€
OR: 102
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 11
‘Just how good Delgardo is might be revealed tomorrow, at Cologne,’ I wrote in the first Derby Dozen. Well, the start was disappointing after all. The colt from Andreas Wöhler's yard finished fourth in his seasonal debut, falling short of expectations. A small ray of hope: Aquaman, the winner, later placed in the G3 Bavarian Classic, and the runner-up EAGLE EMBLEM (Sea The Moon) went on to win a race at Munich. Nevertheless, that was not enough for a candidate with Derby ambitions.
But three weeks later, Delgardo showed a completely different face. Racecaller Marvin Schridde summarised it appropriately at the start of the straight: ‘Is this a completely different Delgardo today than three weeks ago?’ - And that's exactly what it was. He won in impressive style by one length over Hochkönig, who carried 1.5kg less. The third-placed horse finished a full 12 lengths behind the duo - a real exclamation mark from the Best Solution son.
With a current OR of 92, Delgardo has long since qualified for Hamburg. Where the journey will take him until then is still open. The Derby Trial (L) at Düsseldorf or the G2 Union-Rennen at Cologne are on the cards.
After the strong last impression, one thing remains to be said: Delgardo is (back) on course. By the way, his own-sister DE LA LUNA won on Derby Day 2024. She broke her maiden at Hamburg.
12 - QUINTO
Soldier Hollow x Quantum Love (Maxios)
Owner: Gestüt Park Wiedingen
Trainer: Peter Schiergen
Breeder: Gestüt Park Wiedingen
Odds: 20/1
OR: 80
Position in the last Derby Dozen: 28
Only two horses on this list are still undefeated. Enzian and Quinto, although the former has only raced once. The Gestüt Park Wiedingen show began on 26 April at Düsseldorf with a victory for Quinto. The son of Soldier Hollow has raced once before, winning against modest opposition at Cologne last year. In 2025, he started the season over 2100 metres, but due to his victory, he had to carry an impressive 3kg more than Amico, for example. Nevertheless, he was able to maintain his clean slate after a race from the front. Three other horses owned by Helmut von Finck have raced so far this year. These three were also victorious. All three could win on Blacktype level. EGINA won a Listed race atd Hanover, Path Of Soldier won the G3 Bavarian Classic and SANTAGADA (all three by Soldier Hollow, of course) won the G3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann - Schwarzgold-Rennen.
Looking at Quinto's other entries, one is a little surprised. He is not only entered for the Derby Trials at Düsseldorf (L) and Baden-Baden (G3), but also for a Class 2 handicap on 18 May at Cologne. He still has to qualify for the Derby. With a current OR of 80, there is no way around a Blacktype race in the future.
Where is...?
As the name suggests, only the top 12 are presented in the Derby Dozen. But of course, I have thought about all the horses. Or at least those that have already raced. Here I would like to introduce a few more names that some of you might have expected to see higher up the list.
THINK GIANT (Lope De Vega) - Eckhard Sauren - Christophe Ferland - 15
SERIENADLER (Gleneagles) - Michael Wachowitz - Marcel Weiß - 16
EAGLE EMBLEM (Sea The Moon) - Dr. Christoph Berglar - Waldemar Hickst - 18
RAFALE DESIGN (Starspangledbanner) - Laurent Dassault - Yann Barberot - 20
ZUCKERHUT (Almanzor) - Rennstall Gestüt Hachtsee - Peter Schiergen - 22
HOCHKÖNIG (Polish Vulcano) - Stall Cloverleaf - Yasmin Almenräder - 27
That was the second Derby Dozen – my current assessment of the most exciting candidates for the G1 IDEE 156th German Derby. As always, the ranking is a snapshot and, of course, subjective. The next race could shake things up again.
Which horse is your favourite for the Blue Ribband? Feel free to write to me in the comments or on GaloppDaily's social media channels – I look forward to hearing your opinion!
The next edition will follow after the G2 Union-Rennen at Cologne – then we'll see who can hold their own in a direct comparison.
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