THE Oleander-Rennen was not the only big race run in Germany on the Whit weekend and Monday saw a spectacular performance by Ancient Spirit, who made almost all the running and scored by four and a half lengths to win Cologne’s Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (German 2,000 Guineas) from British challengers Fajjaj and Irish Fighter (both Irish-bred).

Trained by Jean-Pierre Carvalho, ridden by Filip Minarik and owned and bred by Stall Ullmann/Gestüt Schlenderhan, Ancient Spirit was the lowest-rated runner coming into the race and the longest outsider in the field at 21-1.

However, there was certainly no fluke about his victory and the handicapper has raised his rating by no less than 35lbs.

He is out of a Galileo mare from the immediate family of Melbourne Cup winner Almandin, but he is by Invincible Spirit and is unlikely to stay much further after a mile. He is likely to go next for the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in early July.

This Sunday we have the fillies’ equivalent race at Düsseldorf. It looks as if Mark Johnston’s Nyaleti, an Irish-bred daughter of Arch, will be the only foreign runner.

Last time out she beat older fillies and mares in a listed race at Goodwood and had previously finished three lengths behind Billesdon Brook when sixth in the Nell Gwyn. She is very consistent but has already been busy, and this will be her 12th start, so it remains to be seen if she can improve any further.

There was a very close finish to the main trial here, the Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis at Dusseldorf, between Malakeh, Go Rose and Queens Harbour, and all three are set to reoppose.

Peter Schiergen’s Binti Al Nar, beaten in a photo finish at Longchamp last time, is top-rated of the German runners, and Carvalho has another potential dark horse here in Indah.