Clever Candy makes Hamburg cheer in the Lotto Hamburg Grand Prix

Pure emotion after the Lotto Hamburg Grand Prix (Listed race, 30,000 euros, 1,200 m) on Friday, the third day of the IDEE Derby week, at the racecourse in Hamburg-Horn. For the six-year-old mare Clever Candy (odds: 4:1) from the Düsseldorf Form stable of Sascha Smrczek, with jockey Bayarsaikhan Ganbat, ensured a triumph for the Hamburg Winterhude stable, owned by Hamburg racecourse doctor Dr Peter Wind, entrepreneur Thomas Collatz and presenter and journalist Daniel Delius.

Clever Candy is the name of the winner of the LOTTO Hamburg Grand Prix. © Frank Sorge / Galoppfoto.de

Clever Candy had once cost just 13,000 Euros at the BBAG auction (Daniel Delius was the auctioneer at that time) in 2021, with the 18,000 Euros she earned now, the Intello daughter increased her winning total to 129,767 Euros. At the 43rd start of her career, it was the ninth hit by Clever Candy, who also often demonstrated her ability in France.

With a tremendous final spurt Clever Candy still managed to turn the corner against Zandjan, who was holding on very well in front, and the French rider Aubazine. Perfect Pic did surprisingly well in fourth place.

"Normally Clever Candy comes from behind, but today she was able to keep up well. She has made another shot forward this year," analysed jockey Bayarsaikhan Ganbat.

"The mare is insane"

"The mare is insane. We bought her when she was still running in Equalisation III, now she has gone up at least 25 kilos in rating. Phenomenal," added trainer Sascha Smrczek. The Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche, Germany's best sprint race in Baden-Baden, and a group race in Dresden are the possible long-term goals for Clever Candy, who has improved so much.

Arabino at enormously high odds

But that was by far not all for Sascha Smrczek, because a good half hour later the successful coach also won the Equalisation I (17,000 Euro, 1,400 m) with Arabino, who was entered for the first time this year. At 20.3:1, the oldest candidate in the field, who is eight years old, won the race at enormously high odds. With Germany's best race rider, Sibylle Vogt, he caught Mister Applebee and Atoso as well as Schützenprinz late in the race. The four-horse bet paid €4,226.1:1.

"He had a long winter campaign, was in the paddock afterwards. I didn't expect him to win today on his first start this year," Sascha Smrczek admitted.

Things continue to go brilliantly for trainer Frank Fuhrmann, as in a 1,350-metre handicap the Möser-based coach scored his fourth success at the IDEE Derby meeting with Marali Shauday (5.8:1).

The Ittlingen stud of furniture entrepreneur Manfred Ostermann is one of the largest owners of racehorses in Germany. In the Prize of the Great Week Baden-Baden-Iffezheim over 1,400 metres, they landed a completely unchallenged success with Loudina (2.9:1) under Andrasch Starke, who was clearly clear of Treviso and Keep Bidding. "She had shown some decent form last year, a strong mare," said Starke, who also praised the Horner cross-country: "It's perfect."

A chance for young riders

Riders under the age of 30 were entered in a heat for the Mehl-Mülhens Foundation Young Riders' Prize (Equalisation IV, 2,200 m). And here Maike Riehl excelled on the 8.9:1 chance Sunny Star, trained by Marian Falk Weißmeier, who rolled over the competition. "There is a huge atmosphere here in Hamburg. It is great fun to win on this track," the Amazon described.

"An indescribable feeling"

In the Hein Bollow Memorial - Ex Aktiven Cup, on the other hand, former jockeys climbed into the saddle, and here, of course, the group horse Lord Charming, ridden by Peter Schiergen's son Dennis, stood in an exposed role as the 1.1:1 favourite. Effortlessly, Rennstall Gestüt Hachtsee's gelding pulled away from last year's Derby starter Magical Beat with Andre Best and Big Ben Harbour under Fabio Marcialis. "When you go in front and then the horse shifts up two gears, it's an indescribable feeling," commented Dennis Schiergen. "Now we are heading for a Listed race in Clairefontaine on 29 July," Racing Manager Wilhelm Feldmann indicated the further route for Lord Charming.

Success is the best medicine - the success of Blueridge Silver (5:1) with his daughter Steffi Koyuncu in a 1,200-metre Compensation III must have been balm for Mario Hofer from Krefeld, who did not travel to Hamburg due to an injury.

The Dutch rider Taycan (2.8:1) from the stable of John Smith under Adrie de Vries solved a tempting task when he won a 1,200 metre race very easily against Kodi Beach and Let Em Have It.

In the subsequent Equaliser III over 1,800 metres, Oliver Schnakenberg's Agent Sim (13.1:1) achieved the feat of winning his fourth race of the year. With Tommaso Scardino, the gelding owned by the Bad Harzburg stable Weißer Stein relegated Latendo, Manjaro and Flotte Biene to second place. This four-horse bet paid 3,881.3:1 Euros at the Toto.

The third racing day of the IDEE Derby meeting had already started at 11:05 a.m. with five races, which were also broadcast to France, before six tests were held after a break. The total turnover in the eleven races amounted to 293,687.75 Euros.

Next race day on Saturday around the WETTSTAR Grosser Hansa-Preis

The IDEE Derby meeting will continue tomorrow, Saturday, 01 July 2023, with a twelve-race programme (first start at 10:50 am) around the WETTSTAR Grosser Hansa-Preis (Group II, 70,000 Euros, 2,400 m). The absolute highlight of the racing year is the IDEE 154th German Derby (Group I, 650,000 euros, 2,400 m) on Sunday.

Source: Press release Hamburger Renn-Club e.V.