He is without question one of the best horses in Germany: the three-year-old stallion Loucas won a Group II race over the mile (1,600 m) in Baden-Baden at the beginning of September. On Saturday, the charge of trainer Waldemar Hickst is the star of the Rubaiyat – Großer Münchner Herbst-Preis, a Listed race worth 35,000 euros.
Group and Listed races are among the “black type” contests that are so valuable internationally, both in sporting and in breeding terms. Rubaiyat, the race’s namesake, was bred at Gestüt Karlshof and was himself a five-time Group winner for Darius Racing, voted “Galopper des Jahres” (German Racehorse of the Year) in 2019. He now stands as a stallion at Gestüt Ohlerweiherhof in Saarland.
Lucrative Chances for Punters
The 1,300 m sprint (race 5) is the highlight of the penultimate race day, which features eight races in total and in which amateur riders also play a central role. The first start is at 1:30 p.m. There is a great deal of money to be won for punters in the V7 bet: anyone who picks the winner correctly in races 2 (Preis der Abendzeitung) through 8 (Auktionshaus-Nusser-Preis) has the chance to earn 25,000 euros. In the V4 bet (races 5 to 8), the Münchener Rennverein still guarantees a payout of 10,000 euros.
“For everyone whose betting hand is not quite so lucky, the losing-ticket raffle with its great prizes offers a second chance,” emphasises Sascha Multerer, Managing Director of the Münchener Rennverein. “Fine catering and an entertaining children’s programme round off the race day for a family visit.”
Nine Rivals for Loucas
In the sporting highlight, Loucas faces nine rivals, to whom he has to concede weight following his Group victory. Nardos, for instance — also highly regarded and of the same age, trained by Henk Grewe — carries three kilograms less. Japanese trainer Satoshi Kobayashi, who is based in France, sends two horses to the start in Time Goes On and Kalkara, both hoping for a first win in a Listed race.
Two Races for the Amateurs
Amateur riders are called upon in two races. The Preis der Carl v. Rohrer-Vermögensverwaltung (race 6), a Class IV handicap over 1,500 m worth 7,000 euros, is about the world championship of amateur lady riders, as the race forms part of the Fegentri World Championship staged by the international amateur association. Nora Cronauer, who comes from Münchweiler in the south-western Palatinate, currently leads the standings. With the four-year-old mare Kelani, trained on site in Riem by Michael Figge, she has the chance to extend her lead. Ten horses are running.
Before that, the Preis vom Schloss Tüssling (race 3) decides the Bavarian amateur championship. The Class IV handicap is run over 1,300 m with nine runners. Swen Straßmeier, who leads the standings, rides the six-year-old Grey Darling trained by John David Hillis, while Kevin Braye, just behind him, partners the four-year-old Bocca di Lupo, looked after by Gerald Geisler in Iffezheim in Baden. In the trainers’ standings, Geisler leads Michael Figge by a clear margin.
