THERE were historic scenes in Hamburg last Sunday as Nina Baltromei aboard Hochkonig got the better of Karl Burke’s Convergent and Clifford Lee in a photo finish, becoming the first woman to win the German Derby in the process.

Convergent was having his first run since finishing third to dual Derby winner Lambourn and Lazy Griff at Chester, and went for home early under Clifford Lee and looked well-placed to go on to claim glory in the 156th running of the race, as the 17-runner field spread out over the final furlongs.

But Baltromei, who was champion German amateur in 2024, had other ideas and came out of the pack, timing her run to perfection to get up to win by a nose.

Connections then had an anxious wait before the Yasmin Almenrader-trained colt was declared the winner following a photo finish.

Burke was attempting to add the German Derby to the 1000 Guineas he won last year for the same owners, Newtown Anner Stud Farm, with Darnation.

Supported

Baltromei told www.galopponline.de: “I hadn’t even realised I’d won. It was just incredible how everyone supported me here.”

Trainer Yasmin Almenrader said: “I’m at a loss for words. I’m overwhelmed by everything. By the horse and by the rider. She handled it so incredibly intelligently again. It takes something to win a race like that.”

Hochkonig was the second classic winner of the season for Almenrader, after the victory of Matilda in the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas. That Soldier Hollow filly has subsequently been bought by Peter Brant of White Birch Farm and switched to Francis Henri Graffard in France.

The winner, owned by Stall Cloverleaf, is a son of German-bred Polish Vulcano, a German-bred son of Lomitas. The 17-year-old sire stands at Gestut Idee in Germany for €2,000.

The winner had previously finished second in the Group 2 Sparkasse KolnBonn - 190th Union-Rennen, beaten a length by Zuckerhut who again went off favourite on Sunday but could only finish sixth, beaten three lengths by the winner.