GESTÜT Etzean’s homebred Palmas recorded an impressive victory in last Sunday’s Group 1 Henkel Preis der Diana (German Oaks) at Düsseldorf, putting up what was arguably the best performance by a German three-year-old so far this year.

Sixteen fillies lined up and it was generally felt to be a much stronger field than the German Derby a month ago, where many of the expected favourites, including the winners of most of the top trials, missed the race for one reason or another.

However, this time all the major contenders made it to the race, the only negative factor being the lack of foreign raiders.

Earlier in the week there had been three possible supplementary entries from abroad, notably Aidan O’Brien’s Divinely, but in the event none materialised.

However, it was still a strong field and included fillies who had run well in the French and Italian equivalent races, and the field certainly had strength in depth.

It looked wide open beforehand, as was clearly shown by the betting. Amazing Grace, winner of the Hoppegarten trial and unluckily beaten at Hamburg last time out, was a narrow favourite at just over 4/1, with Palmas – despite the fact that this was only her third career start – second favourite at 9/2, with Isfahani – representing the connections of the German Derby winner Sisfahan – next best at 5.3/1.

However, Amazing Grace had been drawn 15 of 16, a huge disadvantage at this rather tight track, and she never really got into the race.

Perfect position

Palmas, who had won both her previous starts in promising style, had an ideal draw in six, and was soon in a perfect position.

As expected Alaskasoone, who had made all for an easy win over this course and distance three weeks ago, made the running at a decent pace, accompanied by Reine d’Amour, who was the highest-rated filly in the field but not expected to stay.

Palmas was poised just behind this pair and when jockey Eduardo Pedroza found room to make his challenge, she shot clear in a matter of strides and had the race won by the two-furlong marker.

She won by six lengths from Isfahani, who ran on well from mid-field, and Noble Heidi. Walkaway finished well from the worst draw of all and just pipped Anoush for fourth place.

Palmas undoubtedly had the run of the race, but this is no way detracts from her performance.

She was by far the best filly in the field and remains unbeaten, having made massive improvement this year after not running at all at two.

“We always knew she was talented,” said trainer Andreas Wöhler, “and expected to run a big race – but not however to win like this.”

Wöhler was winning the German Oaks for the fifth time and his stable jockey for the fourth time, while Palmas was also the fourth winner bred by Gestüt Etzean and the second in their own colours.

The time of the race was extremely good, in fact a record for the race since it moved to Düsseldorf earlier this century. Alaskasonne weakened into sixth, having possibly done too much up front, while Reine d’Amour, as expected, failed to stay and dropped back to 11th place.

Stallion

The result was not only a triumph for Etzean, but also for their stallion Lord Of England, sire of the winner, and also of Isfahan, himself sire of the runner-up Isfahani and last month of the German Derby winner Sisfahan.

Palmas is from an excellent family, she is a half-sister to two group race winners out of listed-placed Peace Time, a daughter of the highly influential 1977 German Derby winner Surumu.

However, a closer look at the pedigree suggests that Palmas might not be a proper stayer, and trainer Wöhler clearly shares this opinion. “Although she stayed the 2,200 metres well enough at Düsseldorf, I think that on a larger track 2,000 metres may well turn out to be her optimum distance.”

Her main target now is therefore the Prix de l’Opera on Arc day, and she could well go there without another race in between. That would then be only her fourth lifetime start, but she remains a very exciting prospect.