SUNDAY’S Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) was the most exciting race seen in Germany so far this year. It ended in a three-way photo-finish, with Jaber Abdullah’s homebred Poetic Dream (Andreas Wöhler/Eduardo Pedroza) getting up on the line to score by a neck from Newmarket raider Lockheed (William Haggas/Pat Cosgrave), with Empire Of The Star (Wöhler/Maxime Guyon) a short head away in third.

Lockheed had made almost the running, with Empire Of The Star in close attendance, and for most of the straight it looked as if this pair would fight out the finish. Pedroza had kept to the inside all the way round on Poetic Dream, but his prospects seemed hopeless when he had no room at all two furlongs out and he was in fact shuffled back to last place.

However, Lockheed drifted to his left at the distance, taking Empire Of The Star with him, and a huge gap opened up on the rail for Poetic Dream, who quickened really well and must have made five lengths up on the leaders in the final furlong to get up in the final strides.

LUCKY GAP

One could say that Poetic Dream was lucky to get the gap at exactly the right time, but on the other hand he would have been unlucky had he not won, as he was almost certainly the best horse in the race and the pick of the paddock.

An Irish-bred son of Poet’s Voice, he is out of Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Zain Al Boldan, and a half-brother to group race winning miler Svedov. This was only the third race of his career and he can clearly be expected to improve further. Although this is a miling pedigree, Wöhler, who has made an excellent start to the season, is convinced that he will stay 10 furlongs and he is likely to contest a race in France over that distance next.

Empire Of The Star however is likely to be kept to a mile, while William Haggas, who was not present, is mulling over his options for Lockheed, who was far from disgraced on his seasonal debut.

THIS WEEKEND

The big race this weekend in Germany is the Group 2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft over 11 furlongs at Baden-Baden.

Only six are likely to go to post, but they include last year’s winner Iquitos, subsequently voted Germany’s Horse of the Year and also the German Racing Champions League winner in 2016 after also taking the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden here as well.

Dschingis Secret and Wai Kay Star, second and fourth in the controversial finish to last year’s German Derby, the legal problems following therefrom still not fully resolved, and Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Guignol are also entered.

The only foreign runner is Irish-bred but Polish-trained Va Bank, who won so well at the summer meeting here last year. With the Wöhler stable in such tremendous form, it would be no great surprise to see Wai Key Star score, especially as he has a significant weight advantage.