GERMAN racing resumed on Thursday when Hannover staged a 12-race card which was highlighted by three listed events.

The Grosser Hannoverscher Sprintpreis was the first of that trio and the six-and-a-half-furlong contest produced a thrilling finish. The Eithne Thompson-bred Tosen Shauna (Alhebayeb) appeared to have done enough to take the honours, only for the Andreas Wohler-trained, Irish-bred Majestic Colt to find an impressive change of gear in the final furlong. The son of Clodovil was gaining a first stakes win in the hands of Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, prevailing by a neck in the colours of Jaber Abdullah.

Abdullah’s racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said: “I have just sent a video of the race to Jaber and he’s very excited – it’s just exciting to be racing really. It’s wonderful to get a win, particularly in a listed race. All being well, I think Andreas would like to run him in a Group 3 at Baden-Baden in about three weeks’ time. Six furlongs may be just a bit sharp for him, but he’s an improving horse who has started the season well.”

Bred by Gerry Callanan at Nanallac Stud, the Canford Cliffs four-year-old filly Jin Jin and the Wohler-trained Axana enjoyed a similarly close-fought battle in the Listed Grosse Hannoversche Stutenmeile, with the former just prevailing. Axana was second to Mark Johnston’s Main Edition in last year’s German 1000 Guineas and it briefly looked as though she had edged into the lead over Jin Jin in the final furlong. However, Jin Jin found a little extra to push back in front for jockey Maxim Pecheur and trainer Bohumil Nedorostek.

The Irish-foaled Stex, a four-year-old daughter of Lord Of England, took the honours in the third listed race on the card, the Grosser Hannoverscher Stutenpreis, for trainer Ronald Dzubasz and giving jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev a stakes double and a third winner on the day.

More No Never, a three-year-old son of No Nay Never, had the honour of winning the first race of the resumption when scooting clear in the Neue Bult Maiden Sprint-Cup for trainer Markus Klug and jockey Michael Cadeddu. Sibylle Vogt, who was successful in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, was on board the Irish-foaled Wissam, a son of Pour Moi, for trainer Eva Fabianova. They captured a nine-furlong handicap.

On a good day for Irish-breds, the final two races were won by the Darren Curley-bred Lumsden, a four-year-old son of Helmet, and the Godolphin-bred Gainsborough Hat, by Exceed And Excel.

The meeting was staged behind closed doors, as will be the case for all fixtures in the immediate future, with participants required to adhere to strict hygiene policies and social distancing.