Despite the high prize money – in Munich there was 155,000 euros to be won, of which 100,000 euros went to the winner alone – often only a few horses competed in the highest international category races, which is by no means unusual even in the leading racing nations such as England or France.
The Grand Allianz Prize of Bavaria, which runs over the classic Derby distance of 2,400m, attracted four starters. There was no speed from the starting box, so Murzabayev was forced to take the lead with the four-year-old stallion Junko: “I didn’t want to go in front, he’s a big horse and I had to push him a little at first. But I knew I was on the best horse.” At the end of the final bend, Murzabayev got serious about Junko, quickly pulled away from the competition and ended up winning easily by three lengths ahead of the four-year-old assistant.
Junko is being trained in Chantilly by André Fabre, France’s most successful gallop trainer of all time. The next goal is a start in Hong Kong. “The winner was unbeatable,” said assistant trainer Henk Grewe. The five-year-old mare India came third in her last career start.
Successful V4 bet
The Munich Racing Club launched the V4 bet this year, where you have to predict the winners in four consecutive races. “50,000 euros in turnover for this type of bet is something,” said the Munich Racing Club’s managing director, Sascha Multerer, who was very satisfied with the race day. “We had autumnal weather, but a good atmosphere with a good turnout and, also very important, our partners and sponsors are happy to come back.”
The second sporting highlight on the race day was the Wettstar.de BBAG auction race. The 1,600m test for two-year-old horses, with prize money of 52,000 euros, was also won by top jockey Murzabavey, who has mainly ridden in France this year but will return to Peter Schiergen’s stable in Cologne next season. Murzabavey won on Va bene, trained by Roland Dzubasz in Hoppegarten, ahead of the outsider Koelle.
Hillis with home victory
John David Hillis, who has been in great form for weeks, was responsible for the only home victory for the Riemer training center in a total of eight races on Sunday. In “Together we are strong” – Prize of the partnership of Allianz and the MRV over 2,000 m, the Irishman even managed a double victory with the seven-year-old Ballindinas, ridden by Leon Wolff, just ahead of his stablemate Estivo.
The last race day of the year in Riem is on Saturday, November 25th.
