Morris and Athenian lead home British one-two in Baden-Baden Cup
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 04/09/2014 at 10:38 GMT
The Baden-Baden Cup in Germany had a British feel to it with a field dominated by fillies trained at Newmarket and it was Sir Mark Prescott's Athenian ridden by Luke Morris who held on to win by a neck from Rae Guest's Cape Factor.
Horse racing generic
Image credit: PA Photos
Whilst hot favourite and German 1,000 Guineas winner Ajaxana disappointed trailing back in fourth in the contest run over seven furlongs, it was a first win in Germany for Morris and also the first British-trained victory in 2014.
Alyson West, Prescott's travelling head lass, said: "We weren't sure if she would stay the seven furlongs as she has so far only raced over six, but she saw it out well.
"We were also worried about the drying ground, but the rain today was just what we wanted."
The sudden change in the weather also suited Rae Guest's filly, who made up a lot of ground in the closing stages after initially losing her position on the bend.
"Obviously we would rather have won, but we are very happy and she ran a good race," the trainer said. "She likes this ground and we will probably step her up to a mile now."
Ken Jackson, representing winning owners Axxom XXXI, said: "We came here in the hope of getting some black type, but to win is more than we were expecting!"
Sunday’s main event at Baden-Baden saw two French runners fight out the finish of the 144th Goldene Peitsche with Signs of Blessing keeping on strongly to lift Germany's most desirable racing trophy.
Fabrice Veron, on the Alex Pantall-trained Son Cesio, attempted to challenge in the final furlong but his compatriot, who started favourite, was always going the better and took the six furlong encounter by a distance of a length and a quarter.
The owners of Signs Of Blessing said afterwards that the three-year-old son of Invincible Spirit would probably have just one more race this year, possibly in Ascot's Diadem Stakes on October 4, whilst the runner-up is a possible for the Prix de l'Abbaye.
These two drew well clear of the field, with Swedish hope Alcohuaz keeping on for a never dangerous third, while Irish raider Big Time trailed in last.
Pasquier said: "It wasn't really the intention to make all the running, but he broke so well I was in front from the start and he kept on really well. I could sense Fabrice coming at me in the final furlong.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement