500,000 Euro Highlight: The Diana Classic in Düsseldorf!
Düsseldorf, Sunday, 6 August: The Grafenberg is looking for the gallop queen on Sunday: In the 164th Henkel - Prize of Diana - German Oaks (Group I, 2,200 m), the best three-year-old mares will be competing for race prizes worth 500,000 euros and a great deal of renown. This top-class social and sporting event is the second most valuable gallop race of the entire German racing season after the Derby and the top date in Düsseldorf.
But which owner will collect the 300,000 euro victory premium in the field of 14 three-year-old mares this year? Maybe the Nice Stable, because Nachtrose (B. Mzarabayev) won very impressively in the Oaks d` Italia. Mountaha (A. Starke) from the Schlenderhan Stud wants to turn the tables on her Hamburg conqueror Well Disposed (W. Lee) from the Röttgen Stud. This stud is also hoping for the Derby-pechvogel Wagnis (A. de Vries), who previously won the Diana-Trial in Hoppegarten. One of trainer Markus Klug`s five candidates is also the other Group winner Mylady (L. Delozier).
A very interesting guest is of course Toy (R. Moore) as Irish Oaks runner-up from the stable of star trainer Aidan O` Brien in Ireland. The French Abhayaa (E. Hardouin) won the trial in Mülheim. Toskana Belle (with the Australian Kerrin McEvoy) and Narmada (R. Piechulek) were re-named for 50,000 Euros each. The four-way bet with a 25,000 euro guaranteed payout is on offer.
The classic is embedded in a class card of nine races between 1.45pm and 6.15pm, which includes the Fritz Henkel Foundation Race (Group III, 55,000 euros, 1,600m). Best Lightning (M. Seidl) has it easier than at Ascot. Peace Warrior (K. McEvoy) pleased in Dortmund. Sahib`s Joy (B. Murzabayev) Calif (M. Pecheur) and Zavaro (M. Cadeddu) are known greats.
And in the Grafenberg BBAG Auction race (52,000 Euros, 1,600 m) Arnis Master (A. de Vries) seems to be a common tip. The second four-way bet with a 10,000 euro guarantee is in the 9th race (Equalisation IV, 1,700 m).
