"Do simple things well" - Interview with Peter Rodde

"We prefer to take a step back and be happy for our clients when they are on the podium," says Peter Rodde, describing himself and his wife Aline. Together they run Gestüt Westerberg. There has been reason for the Westerbergers to be happy recently, above all because of a very special horse: LAZY GRIFF.

Group winner in France as a two-year-old and now runner-up in the derby of all derbies, the G1 Epsom Derby!

The story of Lazy Griff, who is now competing in the colours of the British syndicate Middleham Park Racing & G. Griffiths, began in the paddocks of the stud farm in Ingelheim am Rhein.

Many thanks to Peter Rodde, who took a lot of time for an interview for GaloppDaily!

'He wasn't so well received in Iffezheim'

"He was always eye-catching," Rodde remembers. In December 2022, there were already several offers to buy the then still nameless son of G1 Melbourne Cup winner PROTECTIONIST (Monsun). However, there was always a consensus at Westerberg that he should go to the auction in Iffezheim.

His own-brother LAMBO was once sold as a yearling at the BBAG Yearling Auction for a mere €5,000. He then went on to become a Group 3 winner after taking the Bavarian Classic as a three-year-old and was therefore also a hot candidate for the G1 German Derby. However, an injury thwarted this plan.

Lazy Griff was a real eye-catcher at the auction due to his size. But not everyone liked that. "He didn't go down so well in Iffezheim. They said he was too big, too late, he is a National Hunt horse. But of course we were still delighted with his price of €75,000," Rodde recalls.

Protectionist was chosen as a stallion because the breeders were particularly impressed by his turn of foot. Lazy Griff's dam LINARDA (Rock Of Gibraltar) also brought a lot of speed with her. She won the Swiss 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres in 2013 and achieved an OR of 84 in her career.

The buyer in Iffezheim was the renowned bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt for Middleham Park Racing. "Lazy Griff comes from one of my favourite families. His sire Protectionist completed the last 600 metres in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in 2016 in an outstanding time," Brummitt revealed to TDN Europe a few days before the Epsom Derby. Middleham Park Racing wrote on its website after the purchase: "He was our absolute standout, our nap of the sale, and lest we forget, German bred and trained horses have won 3 of the last 12 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe’s, so it’s particularly clear, to us, that German stock is a pretty classy hunting ground."

Lazy Griff as a yearling

The next name has already been decided

"There is a very long and stirring story about Lazy Griff's mum Linarda. She was owned by a long-time client and good friend of us. When she won the Swiss Guineas, her trainer Miroslav Rulec brought the big trophy to her owner in hospital. Mrs Büchi was relieved and said: "Now I'm reassured. Now Mr Rodde's promise that he would take her into breeding becomes more credible." Marianne Büchi passed away a few days later.

In an interview with the Racing Post, Annelie Rodde, daughter of Peter and Aline, revealed that Linarda's next filly will be named Marianne.

Linarda has been somewhat unfortunate in recent years, much to the regret of ambitious breeders. An own-sister to Lazy Griff died as a foal. She then remained in foal twice by Protectionist and TEOFILO (Galileo). She is currently in foal to MAKE BELIEVE (Makfi). ‘We opted for Make Believe because of LAZIO,’ Rodde explains the choice of stallion succinctly. Lazio grew up at Westerberg and, like Lazy Griff, was offered at the BBAG in 2023. He changed hands to Stall Lucky Owner for €30,000, was co-champion two-year-old in Germany last year and will not be without a chance in the G1 German Derby on 6 July. The Group 2 winner currently stands at a OR of 108.

"As far as Linarda's next partner is concerned, I can't reveal much yet. We'll have to wait and see. There are some great stallions here and we've already discussed a few things, but I don't want to say just yet. That remains a surprise for next year."

Do simple things well

In Lazy Griff, Gestüt Westerberg has bred a colt who has not yet won at the highest level, but no horse bred in Germany has ever managed to place in the Epsom Derby.

"We don't do magic here either. I once picked up the saying ‘do simple things well’ from an Irish fisherman. And that's what it's all about for us: don't make a big deal out of it if it's simply about doing a good job," says Peter Rodde, describing his philosophy behind the breeding programme.

"Just do your job well and take people with you. Try to be good service providers. It is very important to us that our customers, who spend a lot of money on racehorses as a cultural asset, are guided a little and thus always retain their enjoyment. And with horses like Lazy Griff, we have done our job more than well and really support German racing in the long term."

After the exceptional Westerberg colt found little favour at the auction as a yearling and was considered ‘too late’, he let his deeds speak for themselves just a few months later. The ‘late’ Lazy Griff was not only one of the first two-year-old winners of the BBAG Yearling Auction 2023 in July 2024, he also won the G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly in September, beating the later G1 Prix de Diane winner GEZORA (Almanzor). He missed a start in the G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud due to a minor injury.

The son of Protectionist made his three-year-old debut in the G3 Chester Vase. And as so often before, he was completely underestimated on this day. The bettors sent him into the race at odds of 25/1. With a second place, Lazy Griff confirmed once and for all that he is one of the best horses of his year. Not only from German breeding, but also in Great Britain. After 2400 metres in Chester, he only had to tolerate the Coolmore representative LAMBOURN (Australia) in front of him.

Lambourn won the Epsom Derby exactly 31 days after Chester.

‘That's why we also put cold a Prosecco’

After the good run at Chester at the latest, it became clear that Lazy Griff would also get his chance at Epsom. "Of course, we have followed every breath of his career. Unfortunately, we haven't yet been able to see him on the racecourse for one of his starts. We got the feeling that he might really be an outstanding horse when we learnt that Christophe Soumillon really wants to ride him in the Derby. That's why we put cold a Prosecco for the race. We were even really overconfident to prepare something like that for the Epsom Derby," says Rodde and laughs.

Up until 7 June 2025, which will probably be remembered fondly forever at Gestüt Westerberg, they were always rather reserved. The potential champion was not even mentioned to Georg von Opel, Aline Rodde's uncle. Georg von Opel is no stranger to international racing, often competing in partnerships with Coolmore in the world's biggest races. Last year, LOS ANGELES (Galileo) won the G1 Irish Derby for von Opel, among others. "A few weeks before the Epsom Derby, we spoke to Georg about his horses. I had thought about whether to bring Lazy Griff into the game or not. In the end, I didn't tell him. If he places in front, he'll realise it anyway, I thought to myself. And just because he's entered, I didn't want to make a big fuss."

In the end, the derby was a real Westerberg affair. The runner-up was Westerberg-bred and third-placed TENNESSEE STUD (Wootton Bassett) wore the colours of Georg von Opel! "He was the first person to call. And asked why I hadn't told him anything. But why should we lay it on thick just because we do normal things? ... ok, maybe not with this one," Rodde adds with a laugh.

Lazy Griff was very relaxed before his big performance at Epsom

Curragh, Hamburg or Paris?

Lazy Griff's next start is already scheduled for the coming days. There are three options for the Charlie Johnston-trained colt: the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on 29 June, the G1 IDEE 156th German Derby on 6 July or the G1 CYGAMES Grand Prix de Paris on 13 July. If the breeder has his way, Hamburg and the local Derby will of course be his first choice: "For us, there would be a lot of money at stake. And if the owners decide to compete at Hamburg, we will make every effort to ensure that they have a great time there."

Lazy Griff would be the clear favourite at Hamburg. A win would mean over €100,000 in breeders' premiums for Gestüt Westerberg.

At the moment, however, it looks as if he will start at the Curragh in Ireland. Only the weather could prevent a start in the Irish Derby. Trainer Johnston does not want to start on a fast track under any circumstances. In Ireland, Lazy Griff would meet Derby winner Lambourn and third-placed Tennessee Stud again.

See the Irish Derby entries here

Who will be the best in 2025?

Once again this year, Gestüt Westerberg will be travelling to the BBAG Yearling Auction in Iffezheim in September with a large number of yearlings. Peter Rodde was certain in 2019 and 2023 that Lambo and his own-brother Lazy Griff were the best horses from the Westerberger lot. Reason enough to ask who will stand out this year.

"We have nice options this year. We have a really great colt by EARTHLIGHT (Shamardal) out of KELLEMOI DE PEPITA (Hawk Wing) for one of our clients. Then we got an outstanding horse by GLENEAGLES (Galileo), also a colt, out of PICOBELLA (Big Shuffle). We have another colt in which Georg von Opel is involved. This is the first offspring out of TANGUT (Adlerflug) by SIYOUNI (Pivotal). In terms of pedigree, he certainly stands out the most. Among the fillies, we have a Starspangledbanner-yearling out of DEIA (Soldier Hollow). Deia, on the other hand, is an own-sister of DESTINO, who is a stallion here on Westerberg. They are certainly all outstanding horses."

Just how outstanding they are will become clear in the coming years. Lazio and Lazy Griff are the latest proof that outstanding horses are bred and grow up in Ingelheim.