On Saturday at the Munich-Riem racetrack, the three-year-old stallion Loucas proved that he is among the best of his age group—when the distance is right. Trained by Waldemar Hickst for Gestüt Ittlingen, Loucas made up for his lackluster performance in the German Derby in the day’s main race. In Hamburg, the 2,400-meter race was too long for Loucas, but over the 1,600 meters in the Große Wettstar.de-Meile at Riem, he proved his class.
The 30,000-euro listed race—which the Munich Racing Club had taken over at the last minute after the cancellation of the race day in Düsseldorf—turned into a turbulent affair. First, Snow Player, trained on site by Michael Figge, had to be withdrawn shortly before the start due to an injury.
Then, shortly after the start, Montanus, one of the co-favorites, was thrown off due to a broken stirrup leather. The horse galloped briskly at the front without Sibylle Vogt and repeatedly interfered with Loucas, who nevertheless won easily by 3.5 lengths ahead of Espero. Waladares finished a distant third. “Loucas has the potential for a Group II race,” said winning jockey Thore Hammer-Hansen, looking ahead to the stallion’s next possible challenge: the Brunner Oettingen Race in Baden-Baden.
The Swiss rider, who had fallen, was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Fortunately, the fracture that was initially feared was not confirmed. “We deeply regret Sibylle’s injury. We hope she’ll be back in action next week at the Große Woche in Baden-Baden,” said Sascha Multerer, managing director of the Munich Racing Club.
Three Goals in One Day for Hickst
The Hickst/Hammer-Hansen team also won the BBAG Yearling Auction Stakes with Astrofight, a 1,600-meter race for three-year-old horses that had yet to win a race. It was the third victory of the day for Hickst, who is based in Cologne, after he first claimed another maiden race over 2,200 meters with Satar, ridden by Leon Wolff.
Andreas Wöhler, who trains near Osnabrück, celebrated two victories. Riding Laveran for Stall Mandarin, he won the MIG Fonds Race—a 1,600-meter event for two-year-olds—to kick off the race day. Bred by Gestüt Auenquelle, Laveran is part of the first crop sired by the former “Horse of the Year,” Torquartor Tasso. Edouardo Pedroza was in the saddle. Riding the four-year-old Mister Phoenix, who was ridden by David Liska, Wöhler also won the day’s most important handicap race, a Ausgleich II over 2,200 meters with a purse of 13,000 euros.
Good attendance and strong betting volume
About 4,500 visitors watched the day’s ten races and contributed to the strong betting turnover, which left the racetrack association’s managing director very satisfied: “That was a strong result for a Saturday; turnover from the V7 and V4 bets—which were lucrative thanks to the jackpots—was very good.”
The Munich training center also has reason to be pleased with the day’s racing, as there were four home wins: first by Kaviar (trainer Werner Glanz), then by Lulu Rangau (Sarah Steinberg), Cyanea (Jutta Mayer), and finally by Djariya (John David Hillis). The next horse racing event in Riem is the LOTTO Bayern Wiesn After-Work Race Day on September 14.
