IDEE 157th Deutsches Derby (Group 1)

DARDANOS, one of three runners in the race for trainer Andreas Wöhler, was a shock winner of the 157th running of the German Derby at Hamburg on Sunday.

Despite saddling the shorter-priced Gostam and Westminster Rocket, it was the 84.8/1 shot Dardanos that gave trainer Wöhler the victory.

Despite never having previously competed at group level, Dardanos, second in the Listed Dortmund Derby Trial last time out, was prominent throughout the race under jockey Wladimir Panov. He was fourth on the rail coming in to the straight, as all the leading contenders in the front rank moved to the stands’ side.

The winner led a furlong and a half out and stayed on really well in the closing stages of the €650,000 contest, holding off the challenge of Chiefland under Cieran Fallon by a length, with Salitos, third in the Italian Derby last time out, filling the same place here.

Dardanos is officially the longest-priced winner of the German Derby, while the victory saw Panov become the first-ever Russian-born jockey to win the race.

Dardanos’ success also saw trainer Wöhler, whose more fancied pair Gostam and Westminster Rocket finished well beaten, record his sixth victory in the race.

Ralph Beckett’s Epsom fourth Bay Of Brilliance faded as the race went on and finished down the field, weakening and being eased two out, beating only one home in 17th place.

Wöhler’s first string Gostam could only finish 10th, having lost position when short of room over four furlongs out, never dangerous afterwards.

Cieren Fallon just missed out on glory as the Henk Grewe-trained Chiefland ploughed a lone furrow down the far side in the mid-race stages before cutting across the course to join the main pack at the head of the field.

He was disputing the lead before Dardanos laid down the challenge a furlong and half from home and, despite Chiefland’s efforts, Dardanos held on.

The Stall Bergholz-owned Dardanos is a German-bred son of Soldier Hollow, bred by Barbara Holubova, out of Delegation, a Mount Nelson mare.

Trainer Wöhler told www.galopponline.de: “One of the co-owners is from Hamburg, so that makes it special too. He needed that last race (second in Derby Trial at Dortmund), but he improved significantly afterwards - though we didn’t know exactly by how much. Winning the Derby is still a unique experience.”

Winning jockey, Wladimir Panov added: “It’s incredible. I still can’t quite grasp it. I was always well positioned; he was easy to ride and completely straightforward. This is the best thing that could have happened in my career.”