Guignol dominates to win Longines Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany

The Jean-Pierre Carvalho-trained horse led from start to finish in the 145th running of Germany’s most prestigious race, defeating the favourite and defending champion Iquitos in the process.

Trained by Jean-Pierre Carvalho and ridden by Filip Minarik, Guignol earned his second career Group 1 success having captured the Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich last November.

Facing five rivals over a distance of a mile and a half, Guignol broke well and set the pace through the first mile, pressed on his outside by Godolphin’s Prize Money and German Derby winner Windstoss to his inside. On the turn for home, Goldophin’s Prize Money swung wide and out of contention and Windstoss did not gain on the leader.

Iquitos had been in last saving ground most of the way and started a concerted drive along the rail to close the gap into second, but was no match for the winner who strode clear to win by two and a half lengths.

Best Solution, who finished eighth in the Derby, had chased home Iquitos in the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich the time before but could manage only fifth of six, with fellow Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Prize Money trailing home last.

Victory for Guignol now means an opportunity at The Breeders’ Cup Challenge, an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held for the first time at the Del Mar racetrack near San Diego, California, on 3 and 4 November.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders’ Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for Guignol to start in the one and a half mile $4million Longines Turf. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

In the Group 3 Steinhoff Zukunftsrennen on the same Baden-Baden card, the Markus Klug-trained Narella, ridden by Adrie de Vries, was an impressive two length winner ahead of Auenperle in second and Julio in third, with the Mark Johnston-trained Starlight Mystery finishing sixth.